More connections for rail travellers

A DIRECT rail link from Seaham to London King’s Cross is set to run from December 2025 as the Office of Road and Rail (ORR) has approved services for three open access operators on the East Coast Main Line.

- By DANIEL HALL Reporter [e-mail]

There will also be an additional Lumo return service between Newcastle and London King’s Cross on weekdays.

Plans were submitted for Seaham’s first ever direct rail connection to London in May 2024 and at the time, Grand Central chief operating officer Sean English described the proposed expansion as a significant step forward in the operator's development.

Low-cost operator Lumo has also been given permission to extend London King’s Cross to Edinburgh services with two northbound and one southbound service between London and Glasgow on weekdays, and one in each direction on Sunday - with stop at Newcastle Central Station and Morpeth.

A spokesperson for Lumo said: "We are excited our plans to offer more great value services between Newcastle and London King's Cross have been approved along with some Lumo services connecting with Glasgow for the very first time.