Edinburgh-London train service resumes

AN HOURLY train service between Edinburgh and London has resumed, train operator East Coast has confirmed.

The news follows storms and heavy rain which flooded various sections of the line and caused a landslip at Spittal, south of Berwick-upon-Tweed, which deposited more than 40 tons of earth onto the track and washed away embankments supporting the line.

East Coast services have resumed after engineering teams from Network Rail worked through the night and this morning to get the route open in time for Friday afternoon travel.

An hourly East Coast service is now operating in both directions between London and Edinburgh. Between Newcastle and Edinburgh the trains will call at Berwick-upon Tweed.

Ticket restrictions have been lifted on all East Coast services on the London to Newcastle and Scotland route only for the remainder of today.

Passengers who could not travel yesterday or this morning on this route can use their tickets today or tomorrow.

Trains between London and Leeds, and London and Newcastle, are expected to operate a near normal service.

East Coast Managing Director Karen Boswell said: “We are pleased to confirm trains have resumed running between Newcastle and Edinburgh, though we do expect these services to be very busy.

“We appreciate that travel during the last 24 hours has been difficult for everyone, but anyone who has seen pictures of the damage caused by this exceptionally severe weather will understand the challenge involved in getting trains moving again.”