New East Coast Main Line trains to reach Scotland in ‘late summer’

New LNER trains will start operating on the East Coast Main Line five months later than planned.

The Azuma trains will enter service on 15 May. Picture: contributed

London North Eastern Railway (LNER) announced its Azuma trains will enter service on 15 May between London and Leeds.

LNER said the Hitachi-built fleet is expected to enter service in Scotland in late summer, although industry sources told The Scotsman it may not be until November or December.

The trains are due to run as far as Edinburgh and Glasgow in electric mode, and using diesel power to Aberdeen and Inverness.

The fleet will cut journey times by accelerating faster than existing rolling stock.

They are due to reduce Edinburgh-London journeys by up to 40 minutes to four hours next year.

The trains were due to be launched in December, but this was delayed due to a series of problems, including their compatibility with signalling equipment, safety tests, staff training and new timetables.

LNER managing director David Horne described them as a “monumental

milestone for rail travel”.