A train operator is reminding customers of a new timetable arriving on Sunday, December 14 that will include significant changes for services in Northumberland.

However, the update this week from CrossCountry also states that major engineering work across the network from Christmas 2025 until the end of January means the new timetable will not operate in full until February 2026.

Customers are encouraged to check journey planners before travelling.

There are some positives and negatives for the county in the new timetable. For example, there will be more TransPennine Express trains per day between the Newcastle, Morpeth, Alnmouth, Berwick, Reston, Dunbar, East Linton and Edinburgh Waverley stations, and more later trains on a evening, but there is a reduction in LNER services calling at the Berwick and Morpeth stations.

CrossCountry Voyager on the Royal Border Bridge in Berwick.

placeholder image — CrossCountry Voyager on the Royal Border Bridge in Berwick.

A website – https://ecmltimetable.info – has been set up to summarise the changes at each station and the page for Alnmouth includes improved journey times on LNER services to stations south of York and a slight increase in services to and from London King’s Cross.

Peter Groves, speaking on behalf of the Alnmouth Rail User Group (ARUG), said earlier this year when the timetable details were announced: “The situation for Alnmouth during consultation indicated a largely positive outcome for Alnmouth and we are pleased to see that this has been followed through in the new timetable.

“I understand that we are to also benefit from a late-night Newcastle departure northbound enabling folk to (at long last) travel back from the cinema/theatre/arena/restaurant trip to Newcastle without having to do so by car because of the last northbound departure being so early at 9.40pm, apart from on Fridays.”

Georgina Hill, Independent county councillor for Berwick East and a rail campaigner, is asking for specific feedback from rail users on the impact of the new timetable.

She has asked people to give her their specific feedback via email – [email protected]

As for the new timetable in relation to CrossCountry services, its managing director Shiona Rolfe said: “The December 2025 timetable marks the reintroduction of important CrossCountry services between Reading and Newcastle, as well as between Birmingham and Leicester.”