London North Eastern Railway has launched new Azuma services from Lincoln to London Kings Cross.
The inaugural Azuma service departed Lincoln yesterday at 11:18 following a special event held at Lincoln Station.
The introduction brings with it a significant boost in services, from one to six return services a day by the end of the year.
The Azuma fleet will provide a two-hourly Monday to Friday service departing London at 10:06, 12:06, 14:06 and 16:06. Southbound services will depart Lincoln at 11:18, 13:23, 15:26 and 17:14.
The current 07:30 Lincoln to London and return service from London at 19:06 will be replaced by an Azuma train later in the year.
To support business customers travelling between Lincoln and London, LNER is also introducing a new Lincoln Business Package ticket. The offer, which has been developed in partnership with Lincoln City Council, includes overnight parking and a £5 onboard food voucher.
Communities and customers at stations across the route will benefit from substantially lower noise pollution levels thanks to the Azuma trains being quieter than the existing fleet, which will be fully replaced by June 2020.
What did the officials say?
Suzanne Donnelly, Commercial Director at LNER, said:
“We’re thrilled that Lincoln is the first destination along our route to benefit from additional services with our new Azuma fleet. This marks an important moment for the city, and we are confident that our Azuma trains will not only revolutionise the customer experience for those who travel with us but open up huge economic benefits for the city and wider area.
“The new services provide significantly more opportunities for business travel, tourists and international visitors wanting to experience the many historic and cultural attractions Lincoln proudly offers including the cathedral, castle and magnificent views from the medieval wall.”
Rail Minister, Chris Heaton-Harris, said:
“I’m delighted that passengers can now make the most of new Azuma services between Lincoln and London, providing millions of people with more punctual, frequent and reliable services.
“As part of our £5.7bn Intercity Express Programme, and significant investment in the East Coast Main Line, we are focused on delivering more seats, on faster and more comfortable journeys.”
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LNER should introduce more new services including Scarborough, Bradford Interchange/Bradford Forester Square, Huddersfield, Middlesborough, Redcar and Hartlepool. As they are using the Class 800 Bi-Mode Azuma on the London KX-Lincoln.