The introduction of the new national train timetable today, Sunday, 17th May, will see more seats, improved connectivity, better service, new overnight trains, and the return of the iconic Flying Scotsman service.

London Northwestern Railway is increasing its capacity with 42,000 extra seats per week, including over 14,000 on one of the country’s busiest routes, the route between Birmingham New Street and London Euston.

On the East Coast Main Line, London North Eastern Railway is reinstating the ‘Flying Scotsman’, with departure times from London King’s Cross and Edinburgh Waverley close to the original train’s historic mid-morning departures.

Manchester Airport is to benefit from hourly services throughout the night, operated by TransPennine Express.

In northern England, Northern is making several changes to improve punctuality as a result of customer feedback.

There will be more direct services on Sundays between Newcastle and Whitby, improvements to the stopping patterns of services between Sheffield and Lincoln, and other minor changes across its network to improve the performance and resilience of services.

Minor changes are being made to c2c services between London Fenchurch Street, Southend and Shoeburyness.

On Greater Anglia, there will be more frequent services, earlier first trains and later last departures.

Major improvements are being made to services to Stowmarket, Cambridge to Ipswich and Norwich, and Norwich to Lowestoft, Great Yarmouth, and Norwich–Sheringham.

In southeast London, peak-time services to London Blackfriars via the Medway towns are being restored, there will be more weekday trains between Charing Cross and Maidstone East, and improved High-Speed services between Canterbury West and St Pancras International.

South Western Railway services between London Waterloo and Reading are being adjusted, with slightly earlier departures from Waterloo, slightly later arrivals at Waterloo, and extra stops at Vauxhall.

“Our mission for Great British Railways is to put passengers first, and as we move towards GBR, this change is yet another way we’re working to make journeys better. “The extra capacity and services will not only improve travel for people, but help to boost the local economy and jobs, as at Manchester airport. I’m especially excited to see the iconic Flying Scotsman named services back – a great example of how GBR is bringing our proud rail heritage into the 21st century.”

Rail minister, Lord Hendy