Who are Hull Trains?
Hull Trains has been running services from Hull to London since 2000. They were originally established to fill a gap in the market, as there were very few direct trains on this route. It’s an ‘Open-Access’ operator, which means that it runs trains without any financial help from the government. Hull Trains runs services to 11 different stations and has a fleet of five trains.
It runs trains that stop at Beverley, Cottingham, Hull, Brough, Howden, Selby, Doncaster, Retford, Grantham, Stevenage and London King’s Cross. Only some trains run between Beverley and Hull, and Stevenage is only served on a Sunday evening.
They run seven trains each way on a weekday, and six on weekends.
As Hull Trains has to make money in order to keep running, it’s in their interests to offer some competition! This is particularly true on the parts of their route that they share with regular LNER services. Here’s what we see if you’re looking to travel from Doncaster to London two weeks in advance:
They also offer their own dedicated flexible tickets, which mean that you can get a cheaper fare at the last minute. For example, an Off-Peak Day Return from Grantham to London is £50. This gives you an £11 saving compared to a ticket also valid on LNER.
On board services
You’ll find overhead luggage space and several larger luggage stacks at the carriage ends. The overhead racks have enough space for the average cabin-sized suitcase.
As of December 2023, Standard Class food and drink has been relaunched on Hull Trains. You’ll also find a selection of complementary food and drink in First.
Free WiFi is available on all Hull Trains services.
You’ll need to make a reservation to bring on a non-folding bike on Hull Trains. You can do this up to the day before travel at any staffed ticket office. There’s more information in our dedicated guide to travelling with bikes.