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East Coast Main Line
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"ECML" redirects here. For the European Conference on Machine Learning, see ECML PKDD.
East Coast Main Line
An InterCity 125 train on the East Coast Main Line approaching Hadley Wood station and tunnels.
Overview
Type
Commuter rail, Inter-city rail
Heavy rail
System
National Rail
Status
Operational
Locale
Greater London
East of England
East Midlands
Yorkshire and the Humber
North East England
Scottish Borders
Central Scotland
Termini
London King's Cross
51°31′53″N 0°07′24″W / 51.5314°N 0.1234°W / 51.5314; -0.1234 (East Coast Main Line, London terminus)
Edinburgh Waverley
55°57′08″N 3°11′20″W / 55.9522°N 3.1889°W / 55.9522; -3.1889 (East Coast Main Line, Edinburgh terminus)
Stations
52
Operation
Opened
1850
Owner
Network Rail
Operator(s)
Virgin Trains East Coast
Great Northern
Hull Trains
East Midlands Trains
CrossCountry
TransPennine Express
Northern
Abellio ScotRail
Grand Central
DB Cargo UK
GB Railfreight
Freightliner
Direct Rail Services
Character
Primary[1]
Depot(s)
Hornsey
Bounds Green
Neville Hill
Heaton
Haymarket
Rolling stock
Class 43 "HST"
Class 91 "InterCity 225"
Class 142 "Pacer"
Class 144 "Pacer"
Class 153 "Super Sprinter"
Class 156 "Super Sprinter"
Class 158 "Express Sprinter"
Class 170 "Turbostar"
Class 180 "Adelante"
Class 185 "Pennine"
Class 220 "Voyager"
Class 221 "Super Voyager"
Class 222 "Meridian"
Class 313
Class 325
Class 365 "Networker Express"
Class 387 "Electrostar"
Class 700 "Desiro City"
Class 717 "Desiro City" (From December 2018)
Class 800 "Azuma" (From December 2018)
Technical
Line length
393 miles 13 chains (632.7 km)
Number of tracks
Double track and Quadruple track
Track gauge
4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Loading gauge
W9 (via Hertford Loop)
Route availability
RA 7-9, RA 10 in parts between Selby and York
Electrification
Mk 3a/b/d 25 kV 50 Hz AC OHLE
Operating speed
125 mph (200 km/h) maximum
[hide]
[
v
t
e
]
East Coast Main Line
Legend
Edinburgh–Aberdeen line, Fife Circle Line,
Edinburgh–Dunblane line,
North Berwick Line,
North Clyde Line, Shotts Line,
Glasgow–Edinburgh via Falkirk line
and Glasgow–Edinburgh via Carstairs line
Edinburgh Waverley
Borders Railway
to Tweedbank
Musselburgh
Wallyford
Prestonpans
Longniddry
Drem
North Berwick Line
to North Berwick
Dunbar
Scotland
England
Berwick-upon-Tweed
Chathill
Alnmouth
Acklington
Widdrington
Pegswood
Morpeth
Cramlington
Manors
Durham Coast Line
to Middlesbrough
Newcastle
Tyne Valley line
to Carlisle
Chester-le-Street
Durham
Tees Valley line
to Bishop Auckland
Darlington
Tees Valley line
to Saltburn
to Wensleydale Heritage Railway
Northallerton–Eaglescliffe line
to Eaglescliffe
Northallerton
Thirsk
Harrogate line
to Leeds
York–Scarborough line
to Scarborough
York
Cross Country Route to Bristol
and Dearne Valley line to Sheffield
Selby Line
to Selby
Askern branch line
to Knottingley
Wakefield line
to Leeds
South Humberside Main Line
Doncaster
Swinton–Doncaster line
to Swinton
Doncaster–Lincoln line
to Lincoln Central
Sheffield–Lincoln line
Retford
Nottingham–Lincoln line
Newark North Gate
Nottingham–Grantham line to Nottingham
and Poacher Line to Skegness
Grantham
Birmingham–Peterborough line
to Birmingham New Street
Peterborough–Lincoln line
to Lincoln Central
Peterborough
Ely–Peterborough line
to Ely
to Nene Valley Heritage Railway
Huntingdon
St. Neots
Sandy
Biggleswade
Arlesey
Cambridge line
to Cambridge
Hitchin
Stevenage
Hertford Loop Line
Knebworth
Welwyn North
Welwyn Garden City
Hatfield
Welham Green
Brookmans Park
Potters Bar
Hadley Wood
New Barnet
Oakleigh Park
New Southgate
Hertford Loop Line
Alexandra Palace
Hornsey
Harringay
Gospel Oak to Barking line
Finsbury Park
Northern City Line
to Moorgate
North London line
Thameslink (
via Canal tunnels
)
High Speed 1
London King's Cross
A detailed diagram of the ECML can be
found at East Coast Main Line diagram
The East Coast Main Line (ECML) is a 393-mile long (632 km)[2] major railway[1] link between London and Edinburgh via Peterborough, Doncaster, York, Darlington, Durham and Newcastle; it is presently electrified along the whole route. The route forms a key artery on the eastern side of Great Britain and is broadly paralleled by the A1 trunk road.
The original line was built during the 1840s by three separate railway companies, the North British Railway, the North Eastern Railway, and the Great Northern Railway. During 1923, the enactment of the Railway Act of 1921 led to these three companies amalgamating together to form the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER). The route was the primary line of the LNER, who competed against rival London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) for long-distance passenger traffic between London and Scotland. To this end, LNER's chief engineer Sir Nigel Gresley designed a number of iconic Pacific locomotives, including the famous steam locomotives "Flying Scotsman" and "Mallard". While running on the ECML, Mallard achieved a world record speed for a steam locomotive, having attained a recorded peak speed of 126 miles per hour (203 km/h) while traversing the Grantham-to-Peterborough section.
On 1 January 1948, the LNER and the ECML alike were nationalised by the state-owned British Rail. During the early 1960s, the line's steam locomotives were replaced by Diesel-electric counterparts, such as the powerful high-speed Deltic locomotives, while sections of the route were upgraded to enable trains to be routinely run at speeds of up to100 miles per hour (160 km/h). As the demand for higher speed intensified, British Rail introduced the High Speed Train (HST) between 1976 and 1981. During 1973, the prototype of the HST, the Class 41, was recorded as having achieved a top speed of 143 mph (230 km/h) in one test run on the line. Capable of 125 mph (201 km/h) in regular service, the HST proved to be a popular and iconic train on the line. During the 1980s, the line was electrified, allowing a new generation of electric traction, such as the Intercity 225, to be introduced.
Today, it links London, South East England and East Anglia, with Yorkshire, the North East Regions and Scotland. It also carries key commuter flows for the north side of London. It is important to the economic health of several areas of England and Scotland. It also handles cross-country, commuter and local passenger services, and carries heavy tonnages of freight traffic. Services north of Edinburgh to Aberdeen and Inverness use diesel trains. During 1997, operation of services was passed into private hands. Presently, the main franchise on the line is operated by Virgin Trains East Coast. On 16 May 2018, the UK Government announced that the line will be re-nationalized for a second time to ensure a "smooth transition" to a new operator.[3] The new TOC to replace VTEC will be called London North Eastern Railway, bringing the LNER name back into use.
Contents
[hide]
1 Route definition and description
2 History
2.1 Origins and early operations
2.2 Diesel era
2.3 Electrification
3 Infrastructure
3.1 Tunnels, viaducts and bridges
3.2 Line-side monitoring equipment
4 Rolling stock
4.1 Commuter trains
4.2 High-speed trains
4.3 Future
5 Operators
6 Development
6.1 Capacity problems
6.2 Recent developments
6.3 Planned or proposed developments
7 Accidents
8 Passenger volume
9 Popular culture
10 References
Route definition and description[edit]
The ECML forms part of Network Rail's Strategic Route G which comprises six separate lines:[4]
The main line between London King's Cross and Edinburgh Waverley stations, via Stevenage, Peterborough, Grantham, Newark North Gate, Retford, Doncaster, York, Northallerton, Darlington, Durham, Newcastle, Morpeth, Alnmouth, Berwick-upon-Tweed and Dunbar. The line crosses the Anglo-Scottish border at Marshall Meadows Bay;
The Doncaster branch of the Wakefield Line, between Doncaster and Leeds, via Wakefield Westgate;
The Northern City Line from Finsbury Park to Moorgate; and
The Hertford Loop Line from Alexandra Palace to Stevenage.
The branch line to North Berwick
The Dunbar loop
The core part of the route is the main line between King's Cross and Edinburgh, with the Hertford Loop used for local and freight services and the Northern City Line providing an inner suburban service direct to the city.[5] The route has ELRs ECM1 - ECM9.[citation needed]
History[edit]
Origins and early operations[edit]
The ECML was originally developed and constructed out of the efforts of three independent railway companies. During the 1830s and 1840s, each of these firms had built their part of the route with the principal aim of serving their own areas, but also held the intention of linking each other's railways together to form an extensive through route that would span between the that became the East Coast Main Line. From north to south, these companies were:
the North British Railway, from Edinburgh to Berwick-upon-Tweed, completed in 1846.
the North Eastern Railway from Berwick-upon-Tweed to Shaftholme.
the Great Northern Railway from Shaftholme to King's Cross, completed in 1850.
When first completed, the GNR established an end-on connection at Askern, which was famously described by the GNR's chairman as being: "a ploughed field four miles north of Doncaster".[6] Askern was connected with the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, a short section of which was used to reach the NER at Knottingley. During 1871, the route was shortened when the NER opened a direct line, which ran from an end-on junction, with the GNR, at Shaftholme, just south of Askern to Selby and then (once over Selby bridge on the Leeds- Hull Line) direct to York.[6]
Having come to recognise that through journeys had become an important and lucrative element of their respective businesses; during 1860, the three companies decided to establish special rolling stock. Services using this rolling stock were operated on a collaborative basis under the name of "East Coast Joint Stock" and continued to be performed under this identity up to 1922.[7]
During 1923, as part of an effort to stem the losses of smaller railway companies, the Railway Act of 1921 required the three companies to group together to form the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER).[8] Throughout its existence, the LNER was the second largest railway company in Britain, its routes mainly covering various territories located to the North and East of London. On 1 January 1948, as a consequence of the Transport Act of 1947 implemented by Clement Attlee's Labour Government, the LNER was nationalised along with the other privately owned railway companies to form the state-owned British Railways.[9] The company managed the ECML under its Eastern Region division up to its discorporation during the early 1980s.
Numerous alterations to short sections of the ECML's original route have taken place, the most notable being the opening of the King Edward VII Bridge in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1906 and the Selby Diversion, built to bypass anticipated mining subsidence from the Selby coalfield and a bottleneck at Selby station. During 1983, the Selby Diversion was opened, which diverged from the original ECML at Temple Hirst Junction, north of Doncaster, and joined the Leeds to York Line at Colton Junction, south west of York. The former line between Selby and York was dismantled and has since been used as a public cycle path.[10]
LNER Class A3 No. 2547 Doncaster hauls the daily Flying Scotsman in 1928.
55012 "Crepello" enters King's Cross in May 1976. The Class 55 Deltic was the main express locomotive on the ECML between 1961 and 1981.
The ECML has been the backdrop for a number of famous rail journeys and locomotives. The line was worked for many years by Pacific locomotives designed by Sir Nigel Gresley, including the famous steam locomotives "Flying Scotsman" and "Mallard".[11] Mallard achieved a world record speed for a steam locomotive, having attained a recorded top speed of 126 miles per hour (203 km/h), while traversing the Grantham-to-Peterborough section on the descent of Stoke Bank. To date, the speed record set by Mallard has not been broken.[12]
Diesel era[edit]
During the early 1960s, the line's steam locomotives were replaced by Diesel-electric counterparts. Perhaps most notable amongst these vehicles was the purpose-built Deltic, a powerful high-speed locomotive developed and built by British manufacturing conglomerate English Electric. The prototype was found to have been successful in its trials, leading to a fleet of 22 locomotives being built and put into BR service to handle all the important express traffic. Designated as the Class 55, they were powered by a pair of Napier Deltic engines, which had been originally developed for fast torpedo boats; the unusual three crankshaft triangular configuration of the engines was the source of the locomotive's Deltic moniker. Their characteristic throaty exhaust roar and chubby body outline made them unmistakable and distinctive amongst their peers. The Class 55 was for a time the most powerful diesel locomotive in service in Britain, capable of providing up to 3,300 hp (2,500 kW).
In the immediate years following the introduction of the Deltics, the first sections of the East Coast Main Line were upgraded to enable trains to be routinely run at speeds of up to100 miles per hour (160 km/h). On 15 June 1965, the first length to be cleared for the new higher speed, a 17 miles (27 km) stretch between Peterborough and Grantham, entered service. The second section was a 12 miles (19 km) line between Grantham and Newark; many sections were upgraded thereafter to enable such speeds to be reached across much of the EMCL.[13]
As the demand for higher speed intensified, British Rail made intensive efforts during the late 1960s and early 1970s to produce a successor to the Deltics. They would be superseded by the High Speed Train (HST), which was introduced between 1976 and 1981. Capable of 125 mph (201 km/h), the HST proved to be a popular and iconic train on the line. The type remains in regular passenger service as of 2018, albeit having undergone a re-engining programme during the 2000s, in which newer MTU engines replaced the HST's original Paxman Valenta power units.
During 1973, the prototype of the HST, the Class 41, was recorded as having achieved a top speed of 143 mph (230 km/h) in one test run the line.[14][15] As a consequence of current British legislation requiring the use of in-cab signalling for running at speeds in excess of 125 mph (201 km/h) , regular trains services are unable to be run at such speeds. The lack of in-cab signalling has been cited as being the primary reason which has prevented the InterCity 225 train-sets from being operated at their design speed of 140 mph (225 km/h) during normal service. A secondary factor was that the signalling technology of the time was insufficient to allow detection of two broken rails on the line on which the train was operating.[16]
Before the present in-cab regulations came in, British Rail experimented with 140 mph running by introducing a fifth, flashing green signalling aspect on the Down Fast line (signals P487 to P615) and Up Fast line (signals P610 to P494) between New England North and Stoke Tunnel. The fifth aspect is still shown in normal service and appears when the next signal is showing a green (or another flashing green) aspect and the signal section is clear, which ensures that there is sufficient braking distance to bring a train to a stand from 140 mph.[14] Locomotives have operated on the ECML at speeds of up to 161.7 mph (260.2 km/h) in test runs. The capability to run special test trains in excess of 125 mph is listed as being maintained in the LNE Sectional Appendix.[17]
Electrification[edit]
As early as the 1930s, studies were being conducted into potential options for electrifying sections or all of the ECML.[18] While British Rail had considered its electrification to hold equal importance to that of the West Coast Main Line (WCML) during the 1950s, political factors played a role in delaying such ambitions while the WCML did receive such changes. Instead, investment was directed towards high-speed diesel traction, such as the Deltic and High Speed Train, as an alternative path for implementing service improvements.[18]
Between 1976 and 1991, the ECML was electrified along its length. The route has been furnished with 25 kV AC overhead lines, which were installed in two phases: The first phase between London (King's Cross) and Hitchin (including the Hertford Loop Line) was carried out between 1976 and 1978 as part of the Great Northern Suburban Electrification Project, using Mk.3A equipment.[19] This only comprised a short length of the line, covering 30 miles in total.[20][18]
According to author David Shirres, a working group of British Rail and Department for Transport officials convened during the late 1970s had determined that, of all potential options available for further electrification, the ECML represented by the best value for money by far. Reportedly, the in-house forecasts produced during this study had determined both increases in revenue and considerable reductions in energy and maintenance costs would occur by electrifying the line.[20] During 1984, the second phase of the programme commenced when authority was given to electrify the Northern section of the line to Edinburgh and Leeds. Shirres has credited the role of the then Secretary of State for Transport Nicholas Ridley and of the then-Minister for Railways David Mitchell as having played a large role in the decision to proceed with the electrification programme.[20]
The electrification programme covered roughly 1,400 single-track miles and involved several major infrastructure changes being carried out, including the resignalling of the northern part of the route from Temple Hirst junction, near Selby, to the Scottish border (accompanied by new signalling centres at Niddrie, York and Newcastle, in Tyneside), ten new power supply points along key points of the route, as well as necessary clearance and immunisation activity to protect equipment.[20] The ECML was crossed by a total of 127 overbridges which had to be adjusted to accommodate the change; in general, it was decided to rebuilt or replace individual bridges as opposed to lowering the track or other line-based compromises. Some of these overbridges, such as the aqueduct near Abbots Ripton, were subject to innovative alterations in order to accommodate the installation of the overhead lines.[20] In order to better accommodate listed structures, such as the Royal Border Bridge, and other sensitive areas, a specially-developed mast and foundation combination were used; elsewhere, the standard Mk.3B equipment was deployed.[20]
According, during 1985, construction work began on the second phase; at the peak of the electrification project in the late 1980s, the programme was claimed to be the "longest construction site in the world", spanning over 250 miles (400 km). In 1986, the section to Huntingdon was completed, Leeds was reached during 1988 and the route through to York was energised in 1989; by 1991, electrification had reached Edinburgh, allowing for full electric services to commence on 8 July that year, eight weeks later than had been originally scheduled at the start of the project. As had been projected, significant traffic increases occurred within two years of completion; one station alone recorded a 58 per cent increase in activity.[20]
The programme was completed at a total cost of £344.4 million (at 1983 prices), a relatively minor cost overrun against a total authorised expenditure of £331.9 million. 40 per cent of this figure was attributed to the procurement of new traction and rolling stock, while 60 per cent was spent upon the electrification of the line itself.[20] Shirres has compared the ECML and later Great Western Railway electrification programmes, noting an apparent 740 per cent increase in overall cost between the former and the latter; in this respect, the earlier electrification scheme was considerably more cost effective.[20] The infrastructure is capable of supporting speeds of up to 140 mph, a feat which has been demonstrated, such as a 3hr 29mins non-stop run between London and Edinburgh on 26 September 1991;[20] however, British regulations have since required the use of in-cab signalling upon any train running at speeds above 125 mph (201 km/h), which prevents such speeds from being legally attained during regular service.[16]
During 1989, the InterCity 225 rolling stock was introduced to work the newly-electrified line.[21][22] These were developed to a competitive tender, to which GEC was awarded as the winner.[20] The Intercity 225 sets were joined by other rolling stock, including the Class 90 locomotives and Class 317 electric multiple units. The displaced diesel trains were reallocated to other lines, predominantly the Midland Mainline.[20]
Infrastructure[edit]
The line is mainly four tracks from London to Stoke Tunnel, south of Grantham. However, there are two major twin-track sections: the first of these is near Welwyn North Station as it crosses the Digswell Viaduct and passes through two tunnels; the second is a section around 'Stilton Fen', between Fletton Junction near Peterborough, and southwards towards Holme Junction; furthermore, the section between Holme Junction south to Huntingdon is mostly triple track. North of Grantham the route is twin track except for four-track sections at Retford around Doncaster, between Colton Junction (which is south of York), Thirsk and Northallerton, and another at Newcastle.[23]
The main route is electrified along the full route and only the line between Leeds and York (Neville Hill Depot to Colton Junction) is non-electrified.[23] This diversionary route will be electrified as part of the transpennine electrification scheme, to be completed by December 2018.
With most of the line rated for 125 mph (200 km/h) operation, the ECML was the fastest main line in the UK until the opening of High Speed 1. These relatively high speeds are possible because much of the ECML travels on fairly straight track on the flatter, eastern regions of England, through Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire, though there are significant speed restrictions (due to curvature) particularly north of Darlington and between Doncaster and Leeds. By contrast, the West Coast Main Line has to traverse the Trent Valley and the mountains of Cumbria, leading to many more curves and a lower general speed limit of 110 mph (180 km/h). Speeds on the West Coast Main Line (WCML) have been increased in recent years with the introduction of tilting Pendolino trains and now match the 125 mph speeds available on the ECML.
Tunnels, viaducts and bridges[edit]
Major civil engineering structures on the East Coast Main Line include the following.[24][25]
Tunnels, viaducts and major bridges on the East Coast Main Line
Railway Structure
Length
Distance from Edinburgh Waverley
ELR
Location
Calton North Tunnel 490 yards (448 metres) 0 miles 27 chains – 0 miles 50 chains ECM8 East of Edinburgh Waverley station
Calton South Tunnel 400 yards (366 metres) 0 miles 29 chains – 0 miles 47 chains
St. Margarets Tunnel 3 chains 1 miles 32 chains – 1 mile 35 chains
Dunglas Viaduct 6 chains 36 miles 02 chains – 36 miles 08 chains Between Dunbar and Berwick-upon-Tweed stations
(Former Penmanshiel Tunnel) 12 chains 39 miles 52 chains – 39 miles 64 chains
Distance from Newcastle
Royal Border Bridge 33 chains 66 miles 74 chains – 66 miles 41 chains ECM7 South of Berwick-upon-Tweed station
Viaduct 3 chains 66 miles 33 chains – 66 miles 30 chains
River Aln 10 chains 35 miles 50 chains – 35 miles 40 chains North of Alnmouth station
River Coquet 9 chains 30 miles 01 chains – 29 miles 72 chains North of Acklington station
Bothal (River Wansbeck) 9 chains 17 miles 57 chains – 17 mile 48 chains Between Pegswood and Morpeth stations
Plessey (River Blyth) 6 chains 12 miles 23 chains – 12 miles 17 chains Between Morpeth and Cramlington stations
Great Lime Road 3 chains 5 miles 53 chains – 5 miles 50 chains Between Cramlington and Chathill stations
Ouseburn Viaduct 14 chains 1 miles 18 chains – 1 mile 04 chains North of Manors station
Red Barns Tunnel 98 yards (90 metres) 0 miles 70 chains – 0 miles 65 chains
Viaduct 28 chains 0 miles 40 chains – 0 miles 11 chains East of Newcastle station
Distance from York
Viaduct 14 chains 80 miles 04 chains – 79 miles 70 chains ECM5 West and South of Newcastle station
King Edward Bridge 13 chains 79 miles 66 chains – 79 miles 53 chains
Viaduct 4 chains 79 miles 53 chains – 79 miles 49 chains
Chester-le-Street Viaduct 1 chain 72 miles 20 chains – 72 miles 19 chains North of Chester-le-Street station
Chester Moor or Dene Viaduct 10 chains 71 miles 07 chains – 70 miles 77 chains South of Chester-le-Street station
Plawsworth Viaduct 6 chains 69 miles 60 chains – 69 miles 54 chains
Durham Viaduct 12 chains 66 miles 06 chains – 65 miles 74 chains South of Durham station
Relly Mill Viaduct 6 chains 65 miles 23 chains – 65 miles 17 chains
Langley Moor Viaduct (River Dearness) 6 chains 64 miles 39 chains – 64 miles 33 chains
Croxdale Viaduct (River Wear) 9 chains 62 miles 18 chains – 62 miles 09 chains Between Durham and Darlington stations
Aycliffe Viaduct (River Skerne) 49 miles 17 chains
River Skerne Viaduct 2 chains 47 miles 26 chains – 47 miles 24 chains
River Skerne Viaduct 3 chains 45 miles 33 chains – 45 miles 30 chains
Croft Viaduct (River Tees) 6 chains 41 miles 11 chains – 41 miles 05 chains South of Darlington station
Skelton Bridge (River Ouse) 4 chains 3 miles 16 chains – 3 miles 12 chains Between Thirsk and York stations
Distance from King’s Cross
Ryther Viaducts (River Wharfe) 25 chains 180 miles 28 chains – 180 miles 03 chains ECM3 Between York and Doncaster stations
Selby Dam Viaduct 7 chains 175 miles 20 chains – 175 miles 13 chains
Selby Canal Viaduct 2 chains 172 miles 44 chains – 172 miles 42 chains
River Aire 4 chains 169 miles 44 chains – miles 40 chains
Aire & Calder Navigation 166 miles 66 chains ECM2
Balby Bridge Tunnel 95 yards (87 metres) 155 miles 38 chains – 155 miles 34 chains ECM1 Between Doncaster and Retford stations
Bawtry Viaduct 15 chains 147 miles 24 chains – 147 miles 09 chains
River Idle Viaduct 2 chains 138 miles 23 chains – 138 miles 21 chains Between Retford and Newark North Gate stations
Askham Tunnel 57 yards (52 metres) 134 miles 40 chains – 134 miles 37 chains
Viaduct 121 miles 40 chains
Muskham Viaduct 15 chains 121 miles 31 chains – 121 miles 16 chains
Peascliff Tunnel 968 yards (885 metres) 108 miles 29 chains – 107miles 65 chains Between Newark North Gate and Grantham stations
West Gate Viaduct 105 miles 54 chains North of Grantham station
Stoke Tunnel 880 yards (805 metres) 100 miles 79 chains – 100 miles 39 chains Between Grantham and Peterborough stations
Bytham Viaduct 4 chains 92 miles 63 chains – 92 miles 59 chains
River Nene Viaduct 3 chains 75 miles 68 chains – 75 miles 65 chains South of Peterborough station
Great Ouse Viaduct 3 chains 58 miles 18 chains – 58 miles 15 chains South of Huntingdon station
Robbery Lane Viaduct 23 miles 32 chains Between Knebworth and Welwyn North stations
Welwyn North Tunnel 1049 yards (959 metres) 23 miles 12 chains – 22 miles 44 chains
Welwyn South Tunnel 446 yards (408 metres) 22 miles 31 chains – 22 miles 11 chains
Welwyn or Digswell Viaduct 513 yards (469 metres) 21 miles 60 chains – 21 miles 37 chains Between Welwyn North and Welwyn Garden City stations
Potters Bar Tunnel[26] 1214 yards (1110 metres) 12 miles 00 chains – 11 miles 25 chains Between Potters Bar and Hadley Wood stations
Hadley Wood North Tunnel[26] 232 yards (212 metres) 10 miles 70 chains – 10 miles 60 chains North of Hadley Wood station
Hadley Wood South Tunnel[26] 384 yards (351 metres) 10 miles 39 chains – 10 miles 21 chains South of Hadley Wood station
Viaduct 8 miles 64 chains South of New Barnet station
Barnet Tunnel[26] 605 yards (351 metres) 7 miles 70 chains – 7 miles 42 chains Between Oakleigh Park and New Southgate stations
Wood Green Tunnels 705 yards (644 metres) 5 miles 73 chains – 5 miles 41 chains Between New Southgate and Alexandra Palace stations
Copenhagen Tunnel[26] 594 yards (543 metres) 1 mile 12 chains – 0 miles 65 chains North of King’s Cross station
Gasworks Tunnel[26] 528 yards (483 metres) 0 miles 46 chains – 0 miles 22 chains
Line-side monitoring equipment[edit]
Line-side train monitoring equipment includes hot axle box detectors (HABD) and wheel impact load detectors (WILD) ‘Wheelchex’, these are located as follows.[24][25][27]
Line-side monitoring equipment on the East Cost Main Line
Name / Type
Line
Location
Engineers Line Reference (ELR)
Stenton HABD Up Berwick 24 miles 20 chains (from Edinburgh) ECM8
Oxwellmains HABD Down Berwick 32 miles 65 chains
Innerwick Wheelchex Up Berwick, Down Berwick 33 miles 62 chains
Lamberton HABD Up Berwick 54 miles 06 chains
Goswick HABD Down Main 60 miles 66 chains (from Newcastle) ECM7
Newham HABD Up Main 47 miles 08 chains
Stamford HABD Up Main (was on Down Main before Sept. 2017) 40 miles 38 chains
Chevington HABD Up Main 25 miles 48 chains
Longhirst HABD Down Main 20 miles 20 chains
Dam Dykes HABD Up Main (Down Main removed Sept. 2017) 8 miles 45 chains
Plawsworth (Chester-le-Street) HABD Down Main 70 miles 20 chains (from York) ECM5
Littleburn (Durham) HABD Up Fast 63 miles 59 chains
Aycliffe HABD Down Main 49 miles 36 chains
Eryholme (East Cowton) HABD Down Main 38 miles 72 chains
Danby Wiske HABD Up Main 33 miles 50 chains
Sessay HABD Down Slow, Down Fast, Up Fast, Up Slow 16 miles 65 chains
Sessay Wheelchex Up Fast, Up Slow 16 miles 65 chains
Earfit Lane HABD Down Leeds, Down Main 184 miles 04 chains (from King’s Cross) ECM4
Daw Lane HABD Up Main 159 miles 10 chains ECM1
Bawtry HABD Down Main 148 miles 55 chains
Torworth HABD Up Main 143 miles 17 chains
Gamston (Askam) HABD Down Main 134 miles 37 chains
Cromwell HABD Up Main 124 miles 55 chains
Balderton HABD Down Main 116 miles 70 chains
Barkston HABD Up Main 109 miles 56 chains
Stoke HABD Down Main 99 miles 78 chains
Lolham HABD Up Fast, Up Slow 83 miles 33 chains
Holme HABD Down Main 69 miles 28 chains
Abbots Ripton HABD Up Main 64 miles 25 chains
Offord HABD Down Slow, Down Fast 54 miles 07 chains
Biggleswade HABD Up Fast, Up Slow 42 miles 10 chains
Wymondley HABD Up Fast, Up Slow 30 miles 60 chains
Langley HABD Down Slow, Down Fast 26 miles 62 chains
Rolling stock[edit]
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Commuter trains[edit]
Class
Image
Type
Cars per set
Top speed
Number
Operator
Routes
Built
mph
km/h
Class 68 Diesel locomotive 1 100 160 2 Abellio ScotRail Fife Circle Line 2013-14
Mk2 Coach Passenger coach 6 100 160 12 1973-75
Class 158 DMU 2 90 145 48 Abellio ScotRail Cumbernauld Line, Shotts Line, Fife Circle Line, Highland Main Line, Borders Railway,
North Berwick Line (Occasional Saturday Services to Dunbar) 1989-92
Class 170 Turbostar DMU 3 90 145 55 Abellio ScotRail Glasgow to Edinburgh via Falkirk Line, Edinburgh to Aberdeen Line, Edinburgh to Dunblane Line,
Fife Circle Line, Edinburgh Crossrail, Highland Main Line, Borders Railway,
North Berwick Line (Saturday Services to Dunbar and a peak time North Berwick Service) 1998-2005
Class 185 Pennine DMU 3 100 160 51 TransPennine Express Joining the ECML at York and continuing to Newcastle, Middlesbrough and Scarborough 2005–06
Class 313 EMU 3 75 120 44 Great Northern London Moorgate and London King's Cross to Welwyn Garden City, Hertford North, Stevenage,
and Letchworth Garden City 1976–77
Class 318 (gangway removed) EMU 3 90 145 21 Abellio ScotRail North Clyde Line 1986-87
Class 320 EMU 3 90 145 22 Abellio ScotRail North Clyde Line 1990
Class 320/4 (ex-Class 321/4) 100 161 7 1989–90
Class 334 EMU 3 90 145 21 Abellio ScotRail North Clyde Line 1999-2002
Class 350/4 Desiro EMU 4 110 180 10 TransPennine Express Edinburgh to Manchester Airport 2013–14
Class 365 EMU 4 100 161 40 Great Northern London King's Cross to Peterborough, Cambridge and Ely 1994–95
Class 387/1 EMU 4 110 177 29 Great Northern London King's Cross to Peterborough, Cambridge and King's Lynn 2014-15
Class 380 Desiro EMU 3 100 160 22 Abellio ScotRail North Berwick Line 2009-11
4 16
Class 700 'Desiro City' EMU 8 100 160 60 Govia Thameslink Railway Cambridge to Brighton via London Bridge
Peterborough to Horsham via London Bridge
2015-18
12 55
High-speed trains[edit]
Class
Image
Type
Cars per set
Top speed
Number
Operator
Routes
Built
mph
km/h
Class 43 HST InterCity 125 Diesel locomotive VTEC: 2 x 9
XC: 2 x 7
EMT: 2 x 8 125 200 58 Virgin Trains East Coast
CrossCountry
East Midlands Trains Virgin Trains EC Services from London King's Cross to: Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Inverness as well as daily services to Lincoln Central, Hull and Harrogate.
CrossCountry joins the ECML at either Doncaster or York and continuing to Newcastle, Edinburgh, Glasgow Central, Dundee and Aberdeen
East Midlands operates a limited service of HSTs which joins the ECML at Doncaster and continuing to Leeds 1976-82
Mark 3 Coach Passenger coach 272 1975-88
Class 91 Intercity 225 Electric locomotive 2 x 9 140 225 31 Virgin Trains East Coast London King's Cross to: Edinburgh, Leeds, Glasgow Central, York and Newcastle 1988—91
Mark 4 carriage Passenger coach 302 1988-91
Driving Van Trailer Driving Van Trailer 31 1988-91
Class 180 Adelante DEMU 5 125 200 11 Grand Central
Hull Trains Grand Central Services from London King's Cross to: Sunderland and Bradford Interchange.
Hull Trains Services from London King's Cross to: Hull 2001
Class 220 Voyager DEMU 4 125 200 34 CrossCountry Joining the ECML at either Doncaster or York and continuing to Newcastle, Edinburgh, Glasgow Central, Dundee and Aberdeen 2000-01
Class 221 SuperVoyager DEMU 5 125 200 20 Virgin Trains West Coast VTWC: Services between Edinburgh to: London Euston via Birmingham and Preston 2001–2002
22 CrossCountry XC: Joining the ECML at either Doncaster or York and continuing to Newcastle, Edinburgh, Glasgow Central, Dundee and Aberdeen
Class 222 Meridian DEMU 4 125 200 4 East Midlands Trains East Midlands operates a limited summer Saturday service which joins the ECML at Doncaster and continuing to York and Scarborough 2003–5
5 17
7 6
Class 390 Pendolino EMU 9 or 11 140 (limited to 125) 225 (limited to 200) 56 Virgin Trains West Coast Edinburgh to: London Euston via Birmingham and Preston 2001-04
2009-12
Future[edit]
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Class
Image
Type
Cars per set
Top speed
Number
Operator
Routes
Enter Service
mph
km/h
Class 43 HST InterCity 125 Diesel locomotive 2 x 4
2 x 5 125 200 54 Abellio ScotRail Highland Main Line, Edinburgh to Aberdeen Line 2018-
Mark 3 Coach Passenger coach 175
Class 68 Diesel locomotive 1 100 160 19 TransPennine Express Joining the ECML at York and continuing to Newcastle 2018–19
Mark 5A Passenger coach 5 125 201 52
Driving Trailer 14
Class 385 EMU 3 100 160 46 Abellio ScotRail Glasgow to Edinburgh via Falkirk Line, Stirling / Alloa / Dunblane Lines,
Shotts Line, Carstairs Line, North Berwick Line 2017-
4 24
Class 397 EMU 5 125 201 12 TransPennine Express Edinburgh to Manchester Airport and Liverpool Lime Street 2019
Class 717 EMU 6 100 161 25 Great Northern London Moorgate and London King's Cross to Welwyn Garden City, Hertford North, Stevenage,
and Letchworth Garden City 2019-
Class 800 Azuma Bi-Mode Multiple Unit 5 140 225 10 Virgin Trains East Coast London King's Cross to: Leeds, York, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Glasgow Central, Aberdeen and Inverness 2019-
9 13
Class 801 Azuma EMU 5 140 225 12 London King's Cross to: Leeds, York, Newcastle and Glasgow Central.
9 30
Class 802 AT300 Bi-Mode Multiple Unit 5 140 225 24 TransPennine Express
Hull Trains Hull Trains Services from London King's Cross to: Hull
TPE: Joining the ECML at York and continuing to Newcastle and Edinburgh 2019-
Operators[edit]
A train operated by the former main provider of services on the line, East Coast.
Overview of the ECML (in blue) and other north-south mainlines in the UK
The line's current principal operator is Virgin Trains East Coast, whose services include regular trains between King's Cross, the East Midlands, Yorkshire, the North East of England and Scotland. Virgin Trains East Coast is jointly operated by Stagecoach Group and Virgin Group and took over from East Coast on 1 March 2015.
Other operators of passenger trains on the line are:
Great Northern: long distance services between King's Cross, Peterborough, Cambridge and King's Lynn and commuter services between Moorgate and Stevenage via either Welwyn Garden City or the Hertford Loop.
Hull Trains: operate six trains per day between King's Cross and Hull and one per day between King's Cross and Beverley on weekdays, whilst on weekends there are seven trains a day between King's Cross and Hull.
East Midlands Trains: local services between Grantham and Peterborough, part of the service that runs between Liverpool Lime Street and Norwich, as well as infrequent services between London-York and Scarborough, extensions of services running to/from Sheffield, Leicester and London St Pancras.
CrossCountry: cross-country services north of Sheffield are routed via either Leeds or Doncaster. Leeds trains use the ECML between Wakefield Westgate and Leeds and then again north of York. Doncaster trains use the ECML north of Doncaster. Services run to and beyond Edinburgh. Occasional services run from Doncaster to Leeds before rejoining the ECML at York.
TransPennine Express: between Liverpool Lime Street and Newcastle also between Manchester Airport and Middlesbrough before they divert off the ECML to Middlesbrough via Yarm.
Northern: suburban services from Doncaster to Leeds and Chathill to Newcastle via Morpeth railway station and infrequent services between Newcastle and Darlington that continue to Middlesbrough and Saltburn. Services between Selby and York also use the line from Hambleton Junction to York.
Abellio ScotRail: services from Edinburgh Waverley to North Berwick and Dunbar.
Grand Central: intercity operate five daily services between King's Cross and Sunderland, branching off the main line at Northallerton; and four daily services between King's Cross and Bradford, branching off at Doncaster.
Eurostar previously held the rights to run five trains a day on the line for services from continental Europe to cities north of London, as part of the Regional Eurostar plan, although such services have never been run.[28]
The overnight Caledonian Sleeper operated by Serco occasionally uses the ECML when engineering works prevent it from using its normal train path on the WCML.
DB Cargo UK, Direct Rail Services, Freightliner and GB Railfreight operate freight services.
Development[edit]
Capacity problems[edit]
The ECML is one of the busiest lines on the British rail network and there is currently[when?] insufficient capacity on parts of the line to satisfy all the requirements of both passenger and freight operators.[29]
There are bottlenecks at the following locations:
The section of twin track within a four-line section at Welwyn North over the Digswell Viaduct and through the Welwyn tunnels[30]
The twin and triple-track sections located between Huntingdon and Peterborough.[31]
Just north of Newark station at a flat crossing with the Nottingham to Lincoln Line.[32]
The section of double track between Stoke Tunnel and Doncaster.[31]
Doncaster station has limited facilities for terminating branch trains on the up side of the station. This has been remedied with the opening of a new platform (platform 0) on the up side so that trains to and from the Thorne direction do not conflict with high-speed trains.[33][34]
The north throat of York station including Skelton Bridge Junction
South of Newcastle to Northallerton (which is also predominately double track), leading to proposals to reopen the Leamside line to passenger and freight traffic.[31][35]
Railway operations are vulnerable during high winds and there have been several de-wirements over the years due to the unusually wide spacing (up to 75 m) between the supporting masts of the overhead lines. The other cost-reduction measure was the use of headspan catenary support systems over the quadruple track sections – as employed in the Weaver Junction to Glasgow Electrification on the WCML during the 1970s. Headspans do not have mechanically independent registration (MIR) of each electrified road and thus are more complex to set up, compared to TTC (two-track cantilever) and portal style support structures, during installation.[citation needed] In the event of a de-wirement of a given road, headspans result in the need to correctly set up the OLE of adjacent roads before the line can reopen to electric traction. This was a result of extreme pressure from the Department for Transport to reduce avoidable costs when the line was originally electrified between 1985 and 1990.[36]
Recent developments[edit]
The Allington Chord was constructed near Grantham in 2006, allowing services between Nottingham and Skegness to call at Grantham without having to use the ECML, trains now passing under the line. This provided sufficient extra capacity for 12 additional services between Leeds and London each day.[37][38]
A new platform at London King's Cross was opened on 20 May 2010. This was originally to be called "Platform Y".[39] Instead it has been named Platform 0 to avoid confusion of lettered and numbered platforms.
Connection of the ECML to Thameslink at Belle Isle Jnc. as part of the Thameslink Programme (for Thameslink and Great Northern commuter services to extend to Brighton, Horsham and Maidstone East).
At the southern end of York station a short length of fourth track was installed in early 2011 at Holgate Junction with accompanying OLE and signalling systems. This work helped to remove one of the bottlenecks on the East Coast Main Line. Previously, trains from Leeds would sometimes have to wait before entering the station. The improvement allows for better flow of trains in and out of the station.[39][40][41]
Provision of a £47m grade-separated junction to the north of Hitchin (the Hitchin flyover) enabling down Cambridge trains to cross the main line[39][42][43] The work was completed by 26 June 2013[44]
Major remodelling of Peterborough station was completed during early 2014 providing three platform faces for services in the up direction towards London and two for ECML services travelling north on the down lines. An additional two platform faces are also available for Cross Country services to and from stations to the east of Peterborough.[39]
A new flying junction just south of Joan Croft level crossing in South Yorkshire to allow freight trains from Immingham to pass over the line on their way to Eggborough and Drax power stations, was completed in very early 2014. The project, known as the North Doncaster Chord, also replaced the level crossing on a minor road with a new overbridge just to the north of the original crossing point.[39][41]
Renewal and gauge enhancement of the Great Northern and Great Eastern Line which runs parallel to the ECML between Peterborough and Doncaster. This removes freight traffic from a heavily congested section of the ECML.
A new Rail Operating Centre (ROC), with training facilities, opened in early 2014 at the "Engineer's Triangle" in York. The ROC will enable signalling and day-to-day operations of the route to be undertaken in a single location. Signalling control/traffic management using ERTMS is scheduled to be introduced from 2020 on the ECML between London King's Cross and Doncaster - managed from the York ROC.
An £8.6 million redevelopment of Newcastle station was completed in 2014 enhancing the existing station and provide a state-of-the-art station for thousands of passengers.[45]
Provision of a new Up bay platform (Platform 0) at Doncaster station (part of the ECML Connectivity programme).
Platform extensions at Stevenage, Grantham, Newark North Gate, Northallerton, Durham and Edinburgh Waverley stations for the Intercity Express Programme.
Planned or proposed developments[edit]
See also: Intercity Express Programme
Over the years successive infrastructure managers have developed schemes for route improvements.[23] The most recent of which is the £247 million "ECML Connectivity Fund" included in the 2012 HLOS[46] with the objective of increasing capacity and reducing journey times. Current plans include the following specific schemes:
King's Cross throat remodelling to improve capacity and introduce higher speed turnouts reducing journey times.
Power supply enhancement on the diversionary Hertford Loop route
Additional turnback facility at Gordon Hill (part of the ECML Connectivity programme).
Additional down platform and turnback facility at Stevenage (part of the ECML Connectivity programme) - now delayed from CP5 to CP6.
Re-quadrupling of the route between Huntingdon and Woodwalton (HW4T) which was rationalised in the 1980s during electrification (part of the ECML Connectivity programme). This also involves the closure and diversion of a level crossing at Abbots Ripton which was approved in November 2017.[47]
Enhanced passenger access to the platforms at Peterborough and Stevenage.
Further remodelling at Peterborough and linespeed enhancements on the down slow line in the Fletton area (part of the ECML Connectivity programme).
Werrington Grade Separation: A £96 million scheme to increase capacity north of Peterborough station by constructing a dive under to route rail traffic between the Stamford Lines and the GNGE line, thereby avoiding at-grade conflicts on the ECML. The scheme is under TWA application (February 2017).
Replacement of the Flat Crossing at Newark with a flyover (scheme developed to GRIP Stage 2 by Jacobs)[48]
Upgrading of the Down Fast line at Shaftholme Junction from 100 mph to 125 mph and higher speed associated crossovers (part of the ECML Connectivity programme).
Modified north throat at York Station to reduce congestion for services calling at Platforms 9 - 11 (part of the ECML Connectivity programme)
Freight loops between York and Darlington (part of the ECML Connectivity programme).
Darlington station up fast line platform and future station remodelling as part of HS2.
Fitment of TASS Balises and Gauging/Structure works proposed by the open operator GNER (Alliance Rail) to enable tilt operation of Pendolino trains north of Darlington station, supporting its aspirations for express 3hr43min London to Edinburgh Services.
And on a more route wide basis the following projects:
Power supply upgrades (PSU) between Wood Green and Bawtry (Phase 1 - completed in September 2017) and Bawtry to Edinburgh (Phase 2), including some overhead lines (OLE) support improvements, rewiring of the contact and catenary wires, and headspan to portal conversions (HS2P) which were installed at Conington in January 2018.
The line between London King's Cross and Bawtry, on the approach to Doncaster, will be signalled with Level 2 ERTMS. The target date for operational ERTMS services is December 2018 with completion in 2020[49]
Level crossing closures between King's Cross and Doncaster: As of July 2015 this will no longer be conducted as a single closure of 73 level crossings but will be conducted on a case-by case basis (for example Abbots Ripton Level Crossing will close as part of the HW4T scheme.)[50]
Increasing maximum speeds on the fast lines between Woolmer Green and Dalton-on-Tees up to 140 mph (225 km/h) in conjunction with the introduction of the Intercity Express Programme, level crossing closures, ETRMS fitments, OLE rewiring and the OLE PSU - est. to cost £1.3 billion (2014). This project is referred to as "L2E4" or London to Edinburgh (in) 4 Hours. L2E4 examined the operation of the IEP at 140 mph on the ECML and the sections of track which can be upgraded to permit this, together with the engineering and operational costs.[51]
Accidents[edit]
The ECML has been witness to a number of incidents resulting in death and serious injury:
Title
Date
Killed
Injured
Note
Welwyn Tunnel rail crash 000000001866-06-09-00009 June 1866 2 2 Three-train collision in tunnel, caused by guard's failure to protect train and signalling communications error
Hatfield rail crash (1870) 000000001870-12-26-000026 December 1870 8 3 Wheel disintegrated causing derailment killing six passengers and two bystanders
Abbots Ripton rail disaster 000000001876-01-21-000021 January 1876 13 59 Flying Scotsman crashed during a blizzard.
Morpeth rail crash (1877) 000000001877-03-25-000025 March 1877 5 17 Derailment caused by faulty track.
Thirsk rail crash (1892) 000000001892-11-02-00002 November 1892 10 43 Signalman forgot about a goods train standing at his box and accepted the Scotch Express onto his line.
Grantham rail accident 000000001906-08-19-000019 August 1906 14 17 Runaway or overspeed on junction curve causing derailment - no definite cause established.
Welwyn Garden City rail crash 000000001935-06-15-000015 June 1935 14 29 Two trains collided due to a signaller's error.
King's Cross railway accident 000000001945-02-04-00004 February 1945 2 26 Train slipped on gradient and rolled back into station.
Potters Bar rail crash 000000001946-02-10-000010 February 1946 2 17 Local train hit buffers fouling main line with wreckage hit by two further trains.
Doncaster rail crash (1947) 000000001947-08-09-00009 August 1947 18 188 King's Cross to Leeds train was incorrectly signalled into a section already occupied by a stationary train, which resulted in a rear-end collision.
Goswick rail crash 000000001947-10-26-000026 October 1947 28 65 Edinburgh-London Flying Scotsman failed to slow down for a diversion and derailed. Signal passed at danger
Doncaster rail crash 000000001951-03-16-000016 March 1951 14 12 Train derailed south of the station and struck a bridge pier.
Goswick Goods train derailment 000000001953-10-28-000028 October 1953 1 'Glasgow to Colchester' Goods train was derailed at Goswick.[52][53]
Connington South rail crash 000000001967-03-05-00005 March 1967 5 18 Express train was derailed.
Thirsk rail crash 000000001967-07-31-000031 July 1967 7 45 Cement train derailed and hit by North bound express hauled by prototype locomotive. DP2
Morpeth rail crash (1969) 000000001969-05-07-00007 May 1969 6 46 Excessive speed on curve.
Penmanshiel Tunnel collapse 000000001979-03-17-000017 March 1979 2 Two workers killed when the tunnel collapsed during engineering works.
Morpeth rail crash (1984) 000000001984-06-24-000024 June 1984 35 Excessive speed on curve.
Newcastle Central railway station collision 000000001989-11-30-000030 November 1989 15 Two InterCity expresses collided.[54]
Morpeth rail crash (1992) 000000001992-11-13-000013 November 1992 1 Collision between two freight trains.
Morpeth rail crash (1994) 000000001994-06-27-000027 June 1994 1 Excessive speed led to the locomotive and the majority of carriages overturning.
Hatfield rail crash 000000002000-10-17-000017 October 2000 4 70 InterCity 225 derailed due to a failure to replace a fractured rail. The accident highlighted poor management at Railtrack and led to its partial re-nationalisation.
Great Heck rail crash 000000002001-02-28-000028 February 2001 10 82 A Land Rover Defender swerved down an embankment off the M62 motorway into the path of a southbound GNER Intercity 225, which then was struck by a freight train led by a Class 66
Potters Bar rail crash (2002) 000000002002-05-10-000010 May 2002 7 70 Derailment caused by a badly maintained set of points. Resulted in the end of the use of external contractors for routine maintenance.
Passenger volume[edit]
[show]Station usage
Station name
2002–03
2004–05
2005–06
2006–07
2007–08
2008–09
2009–10
2010–11
2011–12
2012–13
2013–14
2014–15
2015–16
2016–17
Edinburgh to Doncaster
Edinburgh Waverley 12,470,767 14,219,772 14,645,022 15,285,837 16,169,294 17,571,392 19,312,458 19,957,346
Musselburgh 161,121 170,852 193,386 202,895 306,185 385,274 389,240 364,690
Wallyford 90,351 110,686 126,719 135,819 159,949 209,260 227,874 221,772
Prestonpans 91,789 108,398 129,192 142,604 170,388 192,574 202,296 206,808
Longniddry 117,121 122,678 135,040 140,490 161,410 165,716 157,908 154,040
Drem 73,871 78,009 80,563 84,905 99,735 109,418 107,844 100,208
Dunbar 224,552 266,142 288,282 299,172 332,377 339,094 318,976 333,916
Berwick-upon-Tweed 331,108 378,727 395,000 380,555 391,772 405,828 419,454 454,568
Chathill 1,482 1,503 2,279 1,037 1,847 1,864 2,612 2,642
Alnmouth 86,436 134,902 165,049 172,170 181,912 197,222 192,380 214,230
Acklington 727 917 1,137 985 948 778 268 108
Widdrington 5,481 7,740 6,618 5,523 4,707 6,314 6,398 5,124
Pegswood 2,417 3,564 2,940 2,281 2,332 2,788 2,688 1,102
Morpeth 123,142 163,627 177,497 188,798 206,458 226,652 228,252 243,982
Cramlington 40,886 68,472 77,304 83,314 87,737 89,828 87,374 85,454
Manors 1,409 1,882 1,390 1,002 1,406 2,574 2,998 2,976
Newcastle Central 4,869,662 5,728,348 6,108,240 6,230,498 6,447,267 7,098,624 7,163,284 7,500,338
Chester-le-Street 86,686 126,033 151,486 160,799 192,519 186,930 197,398 205,572
Durham 1,359,425 1,649,935 1,739,801 1,774,271 1,858,078 1,996,852 2,051,432 2,180,044
Darlington 1,509,282 1,795,683 1,906,131 2,013,516 2,099,480 2,184,436 2,164,428 2,209,274
Northallerton 293,137 380,622 413,038 453,459 488,647 531,676 544,070 556,990
Thirsk 124,877 142,359 147,333 148,260 161,474 173,944 174,826 189,288
York 4,985,396 5,795,978 6,148,333 6,363,387 6,534,388 6,802,004 6,855,682 7,173,016
Leeds to Doncaster
Leeds 11,285,693 14,733,503 16,059,517 17,356,732 18,121,572 22,421,732 21,978,372 24,491,616
Outwood 108,221 166,801 187,314 208,174 211,079 301,388 299,434 354,792
Wakefield Westgate 1,451,587 1,760,373 1,846,988 1,877,981 1,610,947 2,017,854 1,866,320 2,148,410
Sandal and Agbrigg 86,415 97,328 107,190 118,718 123,387 162,448 158,610 180,046
Fitzwilliam 79,428 105,216 116,088 126,419 142,144 180,606 178,518 195,542
South Elmsall 209,839 253,244 265,547 281,906 304,642 353,696 351,194 351,140
Adwick 115,496 176,479 175,754 156,826 160,541 253,986 244,904 247,964
Bentley (South Yorkshire) 81,494 114,419 123,292 98,641 95,264 159,788 153,550 152,994
Doncaster to London King's Cross
Doncaster 2,347,584 2,772,500 2,837,400 2,790,811 2,903,339 3,780,314 3,676,152 3,784,752
Retford 252,113 298,398 320,410 363,084 357,812 376,066 374,322 399,996
Newark North Gate 335,126 377,172 400,286 1,187,545 923,070 960,948 924,528 976,526
Grantham 806,299 917,447 935,848 999,186 1,032,641 1,054,634 1,033,374 1,071,320
Peterborough 3,386,580 3,689,729 3,720,034 3,960,429 4,070,725 4,099,754 3,930,704 4,076,724
Huntingdon 1,277,164 1,360,288 1,373,378 1,448,338 1,564,270 1,592,696 1,542,100 1,629,780
St Neots 715,993 768,708 822,064 888,971 979,356 1,029,338 1,001,248 1,091,388
Sandy 344,127 391,673 400,416 424,161 449,698 446,186 424,906 444,122
Biggleswade 582,318 638,358 653,872 689,369 751,155 734,458 703,386 739,632
Arlesey 256,882 327,106 349,725 369,425 398,128 413,870 411,056 444,680
Hitchin 1,806,889 1,948,003 2,049,217 2,368,121 2,543,526 2,569,494 2,478,832 2,594,012
Stevenage 3,267,031 3,495,795 3,539,052 3,968,033 4,206,418 4,257,732 4,093,020 4,222,776
Knebworth 328,011 344,003 343,752 392,409 457,813 480,706 471,564 494,182
Welwyn North 368,789 406,270 395,304 428,164 455,322 468,312 454,296 485,856
Welwyn Garden City 1,717,434 2,002,197 2,020,502 2,322,204 2,502,240 2,522,398 2,385,014 2,431,948
Hatfield 1,130,146 1,407,219 1,429,839 1,642,091 1,768,214 1,904,588 1,836,546 1,928,032
Welham Green 114,701 125,769 120,413 134,934 147,553 153,116 145,220 160,884
Brookmans Park 136,394 143,537 150,325 167,346 185,759 198,784 191,500 203,654
Potters Bar 1,382,046 1,440,036 1,445,179 1,604,056 1,681,137 1,649,420 1,569,258 1,599,666
Hadley Wood 181,811 206,767 244,961 344,989 393,690 402,194 353,224 343,208
New Barnet 658,099 673,521 674,532 1,057,667 1,126,244 1,013,310 1,029,964 1,069,706
Oakleigh Park 571,227 601,453 623,602 993,003 993,011 909,208 917,232 952,304
New Southgate 291,538 291,290 299,461 476,100 550,758 498,252 512,446 553,174
Alexandra Palace 592,357 609,875 692,845 1,042,833 1,310,940 1,057,712 1,063,484 1,114,960
Hornsey 391,655 362,488 381,659 737,369 1,031,000 896,096 942,828 1,068,740
Harringay 387,794 328,145 317,815 775,050 1,102,321 901,968 963,282 1,039,098
Finsbury Park 3,006,865 5,021,634 5,041,828 5,875,109 5,545,881 5,492,164 6,566,019 7,337,297
London Kings Cross 19,137,693 20,805,979 20,301,663 22,503,777 23,945,017 24,641,427 24,817,616 26,254,644
The annual passenger usage is based on sales of tickets in stated financial years from Office of Rail Regulation statistics. The statistics are for passengers arriving and departing from each station and cover twelve month periods that start in April. Please note that methodology may vary year on year.
East Coast train at London King's Cross railway station
Popular culture[edit]
The cuttings and tunnel entrances just north of King's Cross make a memorable smoky appearance in the 1955 Ealing comedy film The Ladykillers.[citation needed] Also during the 1950s, the line featured in the 1954 documentary short Elizabethan Express.[citation needed] Later, the 1971 British gangster film Get Carter features a journey from London King's Cross to Newcastle in the opening credits.[citation needed] During 2009, the motoring show Top Gear featured a long distance race, in which LNER A1 60163 Tornado, a Jaguar XK120 and a Vincent Black Shadow competed to be the fastest vehicle to travel the full length of the line from London to Edinburgh.[55]
The route has been featured in several train simulator games. Trainz Simulator 2010 features the route between London and York, Trainz Simulator 12 extends the route to Newcastle, and Trainz: A New Era brings it all the way to Edinburgh, allowing the entire 393-mile route to be driven. All three routes take place during the 1970s, around the time the InterCity 125 was introduced; this is reinforced by instructions in the "HST Southbound Express" session not to move until the guard has locked the doors, since the trains did not have pneumatic locks initially; doing so will lead to an automatic failure. Other rolling stock includes Class 37s, Class 47s, and Class 105s, plus Mark 2 coaches. TS12's version added Class 55 Deltics and Class 313s, as well as additional pre-made, pre-scripted sessions.[citation needed]
King's Cross Station is also known as the starting point of the Hogwarts Express from the books and films of the Harry Potter franchise. This connection is marked by a tourist attraction within the station concourse, featuring the Platform 9¾ sign and a luggage trolley partially embedded in the station wall with an owl cage and suitcases on it.[56]
References[edit]
^ Jump up to: a b "Route 5 - West Anglia" (PDF). Network Rail. Retrieved 22 May 2009.
Jump up ^ East Coast Main Line Rail Route Upgrading, United Kingdom
Jump up ^ "East Coast Line to be put into public control". BBC News. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
Jump up ^ Network Rail (31 March 2010). "Route Plans 2010: Route Plan G East Coast & North East" (PDF). p.5. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
Jump up ^ Govia Thameslink Railway (21 May 2017). "Hertford Loop Time Table" (PDF). Retrieved 16 August 2017.
^ Jump up to: a b Joy, David (1978). A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain - Volume 8: South and West Yorkshire. Newton Abbot: David & Charles. p. 304. ISBN 0 7153 7783 3.
Jump up ^ "East Coast Joint Stock Railway: 1860-1922." Science Museum, Retrieved: 2 May 2018.
Jump up ^ "Railways Act 1921." Railways Archive, Retrieved: 2 May 2018.
Jump up ^ Bonavia, Michael. "Report on the physical conditions of British Railways." Science Museum, January 1938.
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