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East Coast Main Line

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Plutowiki (talk | contribs) at 18:52, 29 April 2019 (Class 397 TransPennine Express Velim.jpg). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

"ECML" redirects here. For the European Conference on Machine Learning, see ECML PKDD.

East Coast Main Line
An InterCity 125 train on the East Coast Main Line approaching Hadley Wood station and tunnels.
Overview
StatusOperational
OwnerNetwork Rail
Locale
Termini
Stations52
Service
Type
SystemNational Rail
Operator(s)
Depot(s)
Rolling stock
History
Opened1850
Technical
Line length393 miles 13 chains (632.7 km)
Number of tracksDouble track and Quadruple track
CharacterPrimary[1]
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Loading gaugeW9 (via Hertford Loop)
Route availabilityRA 7-9, RA 10 in parts between Selby and York
ElectrificationMk 3a/b/d 25 kV 50 Hz AC OHLE
Operating speed125 mph (200 km/h) maximum
East Coast Main Line
Legend
Edinburgh–Dundee line,
Edinburgh–Dunblane line,
Fife Circle Line,
North Clyde Line, Shotts Line,
Glasgow–Edinburgh via Falkirk line
& Glasgow–Edinburgh via Carstairs line
 Edinburgh Waverley
Borders Railway
to Tweedbank
 Musselburgh
Wallyford
Prestonpans
Longniddry
Drem
North Berwick Line
to North Berwick
 East Linton
Dunbar
Reston
Scotland
England
 Berwick-upon-Tweed
Chathill
Alnmouth
Acklington
Widdrington
Pegswood
Morpeth
Cramlington
Manors (ManorsTyne and Wear Metro)
Durham Coast Line
to Middlesbrough
 Newcastle Tyne and Wear Metro
Tyne Valley line
to Carlisle
 Chester-le-Street
Durham
Tees Valley line
to Bishop Auckland
 Darlington
Tees Valley line
to Saltburn
to Wensleydale Heritage Railway
Northallerton–Eaglescliffe line
to Eaglescliffe
 Northallerton
Thirsk
Harrogate line
to Leeds
York–Scarborough line
to Scarborough
 York
Cross Country Route to Bristol
and Dearne Valley line to Sheffield
Selby Line
to Selby
Askern branch line
to Knottingley
Wakefield line
to Leeds
South Humberside Main Line
 Doncaster
Swinton–Doncaster line
to Swinton
Doncaster–Lincoln line
to Lincoln
Sheffield–Lincoln line
 Retford
Grimsby–Lincoln–Newark line
 Newark Northgate
Nottingham–Grantham line to Nottingham
and Poacher Line to Skegness
 Grantham
Birmingham–Peterborough line
to Birmingham New Street
Peterborough–Lincoln line
to Lincoln
 Peterborough
Ely–Peterborough line
to Ely
to Nene Valley Heritage Railway
 Huntingdon
St Neots
Sandy
Biggleswade
Arlesey
Cambridge line
to Cambridge
 Hitchin
Stevenage
Hertford Loop Line
 Knebworth
Welwyn North
Welwyn Garden City
Hatfield
Welham Green
Brookmans Park
Potters Bar
Hadley Wood
New Barnet
Oakleigh Park
New Southgate
Hertford Loop Line
 Alexandra Palace
Hornsey
Harringay
Gospel Oak to Barking line
 Finsbury Park London Underground
Northern City Line
to Moorgate
North London Line
High Speed 1
Thameslink
via London St Pancras
 London King's Cross London Underground
A detailed diagram of the ECML can be
found at East Coast Main Line diagram

The East Coast Main Line (ECML) is a 393-mile long (632 km)[2] major railway[1] between London and Edinburgh via Peterborough, Doncaster, York, Darlington, Durham and Newcastle; it is electrified along the whole route. The route is a key transport artery on the eastern side of Great Britain and broadly paralleled by the A1 road.

The line's origins were built during the 1840s by three railway companies, the North British Railway, the North Eastern Railway, and the Great Northern Railway. In 1923, the enactment of the Railway Act of 1921 led to their amalgamation to form the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER). The line was the primary route of the LNER, who competed against the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) for long-distance passenger traffic between London and Scotland. The LNER's chief engineer Sir Nigel Gresley designed iconic Pacific locomotives, including the steam locomotives "Flying Scotsman" and "Mallard" which achieved a world record speed for a steam locomotive, 126 miles per hour (203 km/h) on the Grantham-to-Peterborough section.

On 1 January 1948, the railways were nationalised by the government, and operated by British Railways. During the early 1960s, steam locomotion was replaced by Diesel-electric traction, including the Deltics and sections of the line were upgraded so trains could run at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour (160 km/h). With the demand for higher speed, British Rail introduced InterCity 125 High Speed trains between 1976 and 1981. In 1973, the prototype of the HST, the Class 41, achieved a top speed of 143 mph (230 km/h) in a test run on the line. During the 1980s, the line was electrified and InterCity 225 trains were introduced.

The line links London, South East England and East Anglia, with Yorkshire, the North East Regions and Scotland and is important to the economy of several areas of England and Scotland. It carries key commuter flows for the north side of London and handles cross-country, commuter and local passenger services, and carries freight traffic. Services north of Edinburgh to Aberdeen and Inverness use diesel trains. In 1997, operations were privatised. The current operator is London North Eastern Railway, bringing the LNER name back into use, which took over from Virgin Trains East Coast in June 2018.[3]

Route definition and description

The ECML is part of Network Rail's Strategic Route G which comprises six separate lines:[4]

The core route is the main line between King's Cross and Edinburgh, and the Hertford Loop is used for local and freight services and the Northern City Line provides an inner suburban service to the city.[5] The route has ELRs ECM1 - ECM9.[6][7]

History

Origins and early operations

The ECML was developed and constructed by three railway companies. During the 1830s and 1840s, each company built part of the line to serve their own areas, but also intended linking together to form the through route that became the East Coast Main Line. From north to south, these companies were:

The GNR established an end-on connection at Askern, described by the GNR's chairman as being "a ploughed field four miles north of Doncaster".[8] Askern was connected to the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, a short section of which linked with the NER at Knottingley. In 1871, the line was shortened when the NER opened a direct line from an end-on junction with the GNR at Shaftholme just south of Askern to Selby and then direct to York.[8]

Recognising that through journeys were an important and lucrative element of their businesses, the companies built special rolling stock for through traffic, and services were operated under the name of "East Coast Joint Stock". This continued from 1860 until 1922.[9]

In 1923 the Railway Act of 1921 required the companies to form the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER).[10] Throughout its existence, the LNER was the second largest railway company in Britain, with lines to the north and east of London. On 1 January 1948, after the Transport Act of 1947 was implemented by Clement Attlee's Labour Government, the LNER was nationalised with the other companies to form British Railways.[11] British Railways managed the ECML as its Eastern Region division up to discorporation during the early 1980s.

Alterations to short sections of the ECML's route have taken place, including the King Edward VII Bridge in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1906 and the Selby Diversion, built to bypass mining subsidence from the Selby coalfield and a bottleneck at Selby station. During 1983, the Selby Diversion opened: it diverged from the ECML at Temple Hirst Junction, north of Doncaster, and joined the Leeds to York Line at Colton Junction, south west of York. The old line between Selby and York was dismantled and is used as a cycleway.[12]

LNER Class A3 No. 2547 Doncaster hauls the daily Flying Scotsman in 1928.
55012 "Crepello" enters King's Cross in May 1976. The Class 55 Deltic was the main express locomotive on the ECML between 1961 and 1981.

Mining subsidence affecting 200 metres of track 17 km to the east of Edinburgh, near Wallyford, led to a temporary realignment while the ground was stabilised. The tracks and overhead electrification equipment were re-routed. Stabilisation was completed in 2000 and the track returned to its original alignment. In 2001 severe subsidence occurred at Dolphingstone[13] and about 2km of track was relocated avoiding a permanent speed restriction. This was completed in 2002.

The line was worked for many years by Pacific locomotives designed by Sir Nigel Gresley, including steam locomotives "Flying Scotsman" and "Mallard".[14] Mallard achieved an unbroken world record speed for a steam locomotive, a top speed of 126 miles per hour (203 km/h) on the descent of Stoke Bank on the Grantham-to-Peterborough section.[15]

Diesel era

In the early 1960s, steam locomotives were replaced by diesel traction, including Deltics, developed and built by English Electric. The prototype was successful in its trials, and a fleet of 22 locomotives were built to handle all important express traffic. Designated as the Class 55, they were powered by a pair of Napier Deltic engines, originally developed for fast torpedo boats. The unusual three crankshaft triangular configuration of the engines was the source of the locomotive's Deltic moniker. Their characteristic throaty exhaust roar and chubby body outline made them distinctive amongst their peers. The Class 55 was for a time the most powerful diesel locomotive in service in Britain, capable of providing up to 3,300 hp (2,500 kW).

In the years following the introduction of the Deltics, sections of the ECML were upgraded to enable trains to run at speeds of up to100 miles per hour (160 km/h). On 15 June 1965 a 17 miles (27 km) stretch between Peterborough and Grantham, entered service. The second section was a 12 miles (19 km) line between Grantham and Newark and more sections were upgraded for 100 mph running across much of the EMCL.[16]

British Rail produced a successor to the Deltics during the late 1970s, the High Speed Train (HST), which was introduced between 1976 and 1981. Capable of 125 mph (201 km/h), the HST is in passenger service as of 2018, after a re-engining programme during the 2000s, in which MTU engines replaced the HST's original Paxman Valenta power units.

In 1973, the prototype of the HST, the Class 41 achieved a top speed of 143 mph (230 km/h) in a test run the line.[17][18] British legislation requires in-cab signalling for running at speeds above 125 mph (201 km/h). The lack of in-cab signalling prevented the InterCity 225 train-sets from being operated at their design speed of 140 mph (225 km/h) in normal service. Signalling technology insufficient to allow detection of broken rails on the line on which the train was operating.[19]

Before in-cab regulations, British Rail experimented with 140 mph running by introducing a fifth, flashing green signalling aspect on the down fast line (signals P487 to P615) and up fast line (signals P610 to P494) between New England North and Stoke Tunnel. The fifth aspect is shown in normal service and appears when the next signal is showing a green (or another flashing green) aspect and the signal section is clear, which ensures sufficient braking distance to bring a train to a stand from 140 mph.[17] Locomotives have operated on the ECML at speeds of up to 161.7 mph (260.2 km/h) in test runs. The capability to run special test trains in excess of 125 mph is listed as maintained in the LNE Sectional Appendix.[20]

Electrification

In the 1930s, studies were conducted into options for electrifying sections or all of the ECML.[21] While British Railways considered electrification equally importance as that of the West Coast Main Line (WCML) in the 1950s, political factors delayed such ambitions while the WCML was electrified. Investment was directed towards high-speed diesel traction, the Deltic and High Speed Train to implement improvements.[21]

Between 1976 and 1991, the ECML was electrified with 25 kV AC overhead lines, installed in two phases: The first phase between London King's Cross and Hitchin (including the Hertford Loop Line) was carried out between 1976 and 1978 in the Great Northern Suburban Electrification Project, using Mk.3A equipment.[22] This only comprised a short length of the line, covering 30 miles in total.[23][21]

In the late 1970s, British Railways and the Department for Transport determined that electrification of the ECML represented the best return on investment. Forecasts produced determined that increases in revenue and reductions in energy and maintenance costs would occur by electrifying the line.[23] In 1984, the second phase to electrify the Northern section of the line to Edinburgh and Leeds began. The Secretary of State for Transport Nicholas Ridley and the Minister for Railways]] David Mitchell played a large role in the decision to proceed with the electrification programme.[23]

The electrification programme covered roughly 1,400 single-track miles and involved several major infrastructure changes including the resignalling of the northern part of the line from Temple Hirst junction, near Selby, to the Scottish border with new signalling centres at Niddrie, York and Newcastle, ten power supply points at key points on the line, and clearance and immunisation activity to protect equipment.[23] The ECML is crossed by 127 overbridges which were adjusted to accommodate the change. In general, individual bridges were rebuilt as opposed to lowering the track. Some overbridges, such as the aqueduct near Abbots Ripton, were subject to innovative alterations to accommodate the overhead lines.[23] To better accommodate Listed buildings, such as the Royal Border Bridge a specially-developed mast and foundation combination were used. Elsewhere, the standard Mk.3B equipment was deployed.[23]

In 1985, construction began on the second phase, and in the late 1980s, the programme was claimed to be the "longest construction site in the world", spanning more than 250 miles (400 km). In 1986, the section to Huntingdon was completed. Leeds was reached in 1988 and the line to York was energised in 1989. By 1991, electrification had reached Edinburgh, allowing for electric services to commence on 8 July that year, eight weeks later than originally scheduled. Significant traffic increases occurred within two years of completion; one station recorded a 58% increase in activity.[23]

The programme was completed at a cost of £344.4 million (at 1983 prices), a cost overrun against a authorised expenditure of £331.9 million. 40% of the cost was attributed to new traction and rolling stock and 60% was spent on the electrification of the line.[23] Shirres compared the ECML and Great Western Railway electrification programmes, noting an apparent 740% increase in cost between the former and the latter making the ECML electrification scheme more cost effective.[23] The infrastructure can support speeds of up to 140 mph as demonstrated on a 3hr 29mins non-stop run between London and Edinburgh on 26 September 1991.[23] British regulations have since required the use of in-cab signalling on any train running at speeds above 125 mph (201 km/h), which prevents such speeds from being legally attained during regular service.[19]

In 1989, the InterCity 225 rolling stock began work on the electrified line.[24][25] The rolling stock was developed after a competitive tender won by GEC.[23] The Intercity 225 sets were joined by other rolling stock, including Class 90 locomotives and Class 317 electric multiple units. The displaced diesel trains were reallocated to other lines, predominantly the Midland Main Line.[23]

Infrastructure

The line is mainly four tracks from London to Stoke Tunnel, south of Grantham. There are two twin-track sections, one near Welwyn North Station where it crosses the Digswell Viaduct and passes through two tunnels. The second is a section around 'Stilton Fen', between Fletton Junction near Peterborough, and southwards towards Holme Junction. The section between Holme Junction south to Huntingdon is mostly triple track. North of Grantham the route is twin track except for four-track sections at Retford around Doncaster, between Colton Junction (south of York), Thirsk and Northallerton, and another at Newcastle.[26]

The main line is electrified along its full route and only the line between Leeds and York (Neville Hill Depot to Colton Junction) is not electrified.[26] This route is part of the Transpennine electrification scheme.

With most of the line rated for 125 mph (200 km/h) operation, the ECML was the fastest main line in the UK until the opening of High Speed 1. The high speeds are possible because much of the line is on fairly straight track on the flatter, eastern regions of England, through Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire, though there are significant speed restrictions (due to curvature) particularly north of Darlington and between Doncaster and Leeds. By contrast, the West Coast Main Line crosses the Trent Valley and the mountains of Cumbria, with more curvature and a lower general speed limit of 110 mph (180 km/h). Speeds on the West Coast Main Line (WCML) were increased with the introduction of tilting Pendolino trains and now match the 125 mph speeds on the ECML.

Tunnels, viaducts and bridges

Major civil engineering structures on the East Coast Main Line include[27][28]

Tunnels, viaducts and major bridges on the East Coast Main Line
Railway Structure Length Distance from Edinburgh Waverley ELR Location
Calton North Tunnel 490 yards (450 m) 0 miles 27 chains – 0 miles 50 chains ECM8 East of Edinburgh Waverley station
Calton South Tunnel 400 yards (370 m) 0 miles 29 chains – 0 miles 47 chains
St. Margarets Tunnel 3 chains (60 m) 1 miles 32 chains – 1 mile 35 chains
Dunglas Viaduct 6 chains (120 m) 36 miles 02 chains – 36 miles 08 chains Between Dunbar and Berwick-upon-Tweed stations
(Former Penmanshiel Tunnel) 12 chains (240 m) 39 miles 52 chains – 39 miles 64 chains
Distance from Newcastle
Royal Border Bridge 33 chains 66 miles 74 chains – 66 miles 41 chains ECM7 South of Berwick-upon-Tweed station
Viaduct 3 chains 66 miles 33 chains – 66 miles 30 chains
River Aln 10 chains 35 miles 50 chains – 35 miles 40 chains North of Alnmouth station
River Coquet 9 chains 30 miles 01 chains – 29 miles 72 chains North of Acklington station
Bothal (River Wansbeck) 9 chains 17 miles 57 chains –  17 mile 48 chains Between Pegswood and Morpeth stations
Plessey (River Blyth) 6 chains 12 miles 23 chains – 12 miles 17 chains Between Morpeth and Cramlington stations
Great Lime Road 3 chains 5 miles 53 chains – 5 miles 50 chains Between Cramlington and Chathill stations
Ouseburn Viaduct 14 chains 1 miles 18 chains – 1 mile 04 chains North of Manors station
Red Barns Tunnel 98 yards (90 metres) 0 miles 70 chains – 0 miles 65 chains
Viaduct 28 chains 0 miles 40 chains – 0 miles 11 chains East of Newcastle station
Distance from York
Viaduct 14 chains 80 miles 04 chains – 79 miles 70 chains ECM5 West and South of Newcastle station
King Edward Bridge 13 chains 79 miles 66 chains – 79 miles 53 chains
Viaduct 4 chains 79 miles 53 chains – 79 miles  49 chains
Chester-le-Street Viaduct 1 chain 72 miles 20 chains – 72 miles 19 chains North of Chester-le-Street station
Chester Moor or Dene Viaduct 10 chains 71 miles 07 chains – 70 miles 77 chains South of Chester-le-Street station
Plawsworth Viaduct 6 chains 69 miles 60 chains – 69 miles 54 chains
Durham Viaduct 12 chains 66 miles 06 chains – 65 miles 74 chains South of Durham station
Relly Mill Viaduct 6 chains 65 miles 23 chains – 65 miles 17 chains
Langley Moor Viaduct (River Dearness) 6 chains 64 miles 39 chains – 64 miles 33 chains
Croxdale Viaduct (River Wear) 9 chains 62 miles 18 chains – 62 miles 09 chains Between Durham and Darlington stations
Aycliffe Viaduct (River Skerne) 49 miles 17 chains
River Skerne Viaduct 2 chains 47 miles 26 chains – 47 miles 24 chains
River Skerne Viaduct 3 chains 45 miles 33 chains – 45 miles 30 chains
Croft Viaduct (River Tees) 6 chains 41 miles 11 chains – 41 miles 05 chains South of Darlington station
Skelton Bridge (River Ouse) 4 chains 3 miles 16 chains – 3 miles 12 chains Between Thirsk and York stations
Distance from King’s Cross
Ryther Viaducts (River Wharfe) 25 chains 180 miles 28 chains – 180 miles 03 chains ECM3 Between York and Doncaster stations
Selby Dam Viaduct 7 chains 175 miles 20 chains – 175 miles 13 chains
Selby Canal Viaduct 2 chains 172 miles 44 chains – 172 miles 42 chains
River Aire 4 chains 169 miles 44 chains – miles 40 chains
Aire & Calder Navigation 166 miles 66 chains ECM2
Balby Bridge Tunnel 95 yards (87 metres) 155 miles 38 chains – 155 miles 34 chains ECM1 Between Doncaster and Retford stations
Bawtry Viaduct 15 chains 147 miles 24 chains – 147 miles 09 chains
River Idle Viaduct 2 chains 138 miles 23 chains – 138 miles 21 chains Between Retford and Newark North Gate stations
Askham Tunnel 57 yards (52 metres) 134 miles 40 chains – 134 miles 37 chains
Viaduct 121 miles 40 chains
Muskham Viaduct 15 chains 121 miles 31 chains – 121 miles 16 chains
Peascliff Tunnel 968 yards (885 metres) 108 miles 29 chains – 107miles 65 chains Between Newark North Gate and Grantham stations
West Gate Viaduct 105 miles 54 chains North of Grantham station
Stoke Tunnel 880 yards (805 metres) 100 miles 79 chains – 100 miles 39 chains Between Grantham and Peterborough stations
Bytham Viaduct 4 chains 92 miles 63 chains – 92 miles 59 chains
River Nene Viaduct 3 chains 75 miles 68 chains – 75 miles 65 chains South of Peterborough station
Great Ouse Viaduct 3 chains 58 miles 18 chains – 58 miles 15 chains South of Huntingdon station
Robbery Lane Viaduct 23 miles 32 chains Between Knebworth and Welwyn North stations
Welwyn North Tunnel 1049 yards (959 metres) 23 miles 12 chains – 22 miles 44 chains
Welwyn South Tunnel 446 yards (408 metres) 22 miles 31 chains – 22 miles 11 chains
Welwyn or Digswell Viaduct 513 yards (469 metres) 21 miles 60 chains – 21 miles 37 chains Between Welwyn North and Welwyn Garden City stations
Potters Bar Tunnel[29] 1214 yards (1110 metres) 12 miles 00 chains – 11 miles 25 chains Between Potters Bar and Hadley Wood stations
Hadley Wood North Tunnel[29] 232 yards (212 metres) 10 miles 70 chains – 10 miles 60 chains North of Hadley Wood station
Hadley Wood South Tunnel[29] 384 yards (351 metres) 10 miles 39 chains – 10 miles 21 chains South of Hadley Wood station
Viaduct 8 miles 64 chains South of New Barnet station
Barnet Tunnel[29] 605 yards (351 metres) 7 miles 70 chains – 7 miles 42 chains Between Oakleigh Park and New Southgate stations
Wood Green Tunnels 705 yards (644 metres) 5 miles 73 chains – 5 miles 41 chains Between New Southgate and Alexandra Palace stations
Copenhagen Tunnel[29] 594 yards (543 metres) 1 mile 12 chains – 0 miles  65 chains North of King’s Cross station
Gasworks Tunnel[29] 528 yards (483 metres) 0 miles 46 chains – 0 miles 22 chains

Line-side monitoring equipment

Line-side train monitoring equipment includes hot axle box detectors (HABD) and wheel impact load detectors (WILD) ‘Wheelchex’, these are located as follows.[27][28][30]

Line-side monitoring equipment on the East Coast Main Line
Name / Type Line Location Engineers Line Reference (ELR)
Stenton HABD Up Berwick 24 miles 20 chains (from Edinburgh) ECM8
Oxwellmains HABD Down Berwick 32 miles 65 chains
Innerwick Wheelchex Up Berwick, Down Berwick 33 miles 62 chains
Lamberton HABD Up Berwick 54 miles 06 chains
Goswick HABD Down Main 60 miles 66 chains (from Newcastle) ECM7
Newham HABD Up Main 47 miles 08 chains
Stamford HABD Up Main (was on Down Main before Sept. 2017) 40 miles 38 chains
Chevington HABD Up Main 25 miles 48 chains
Longhirst HABD Down Main 20 miles 20 chains
Dam Dykes HABD Up Main (Down Main removed Sept. 2017) 8 miles 45 chains
Plawsworth (Chester-le-Street) HABD Down Main 70 miles 20 chains (from York) ECM5
Littleburn (Durham) HABD Up Fast 63 miles 59 chains
Aycliffe HABD Down Main 49 miles 36 chains
Eryholme (East Cowton) HABD Down Main 38 miles 72 chains
Danby Wiske HABD Up Main 33 miles 50 chains
Sessay HABD Down Slow, Down Fast, Up Fast, Up Slow 16 miles 65 chains
Sessay Wheelchex Up Fast, Up Slow 16 miles 65 chains
Earfit Lane HABD Down Leeds, Down Main 184 miles 04 chains (from King’s Cross) ECM4
Daw Lane HABD Up Main 159 miles 10 chains ECM1
Bawtry HABD Down Main 148 miles 55 chains
Torworth HABD Up Main 143 miles 17 chains
Gamston (Askam) HABD Down Main 134 miles 37 chains
Cromwell HABD Up Main 124 miles 55 chains
Balderton HABD Down Main 116 miles 70 chains
Barkston HABD Up Main 109 miles 56 chains
Stoke HABD Down Main 99 miles 78 chains
Lolham HABD Up Fast, Up Slow 83 miles 33 chains
Holme HABD Down Main 69 miles 28 chains
Abbots Ripton HABD Up Main 64 miles 25 chains
Offord HABD Down Slow, Down Fast 54 miles 07 chains
Biggleswade HABD Up Fast, Up Slow 42 miles 10 chains
Wymondley HABD Up Fast, Up Slow 30 miles 60 chains
Langley HABD Down Slow, Down Fast 26 miles 62 chains

Rolling stock

Commuter trains

Class Image Type Cars per set Top speed Number Operator Routes Built
mph km/h
Class 68 Diesel locomotive 1 100 160 2 Abellio ScotRail Fife Circle Line 2013-14
Mk2 Coach Passenger coach 6 100 160 12 1973-75
Class 158 Express Sprinter DMU 2 90 145 48 Abellio ScotRail Cumbernauld Line, Shotts Line, Fife Circle Line, Highland Main Line, Borders Railway,
North Berwick Line (Occasional Saturday Services to Dunbar) 		1989-92
Class 170 Turbostar DMU 3 90 145 55 Abellio ScotRail Glasgow to Edinburgh via Falkirk Line, Edinburgh to Aberdeen Line, Edinburgh to Dunblane Line,
Fife Circle Line, Edinburgh Crossrail, Highland Main Line, Borders Railway,
North Berwick Line (Saturday Services to Dunbar and a peak time North Berwick Service) 		1998-2005
Class 185 Desiro DMU 3 100 160 51 TransPennine Express Joining the ECML at York and continuing to Newcastle, Middlesbrough and Scarborough 2005–06
Class 313 EMU 3 75 120 44 Great Northern London Moorgate and London King's Cross to Welwyn Garden City, Hertford North, Stevenage,
and Letchworth Garden City 		1976–77
Class 318 (gangway removed) EMU 3 90 145 21 Abellio ScotRail North Clyde Line 1986-87
Class 320 EMU 3 90 145 22 Abellio ScotRail North Clyde Line 1990
Class 320/4 (ex-Class 321/4) 100 161 7 1989–90
Class 350/4 Juniper EMU 3 90 145 21 Abellio ScotRail North Clyde Line 1999-2002
Class 350/4 Desiro EMU 4 110 180 10 TransPennine Express Edinburgh to Manchester Airport 2013–14
Class 365 Networker Express EMU 4 100 161 40 Great Northern
Abellio ScotRail 		London King's Cross to Peterborough, Cambridge and Ely
Glasgow to Edinburgh via Falkirk Line 		1994–95
Class 387/1 Electrostar EMU 4 110 177 29 Great Northern London King's Cross to Peterborough, Cambridge and King's Lynn 2014-15
Class 380 Desiro EMU 3 100 160 22 Abellio ScotRail North Berwick Line 2009-11
4 16
Class 385 AT200 EMU 3 100 160 46 Abellio ScotRail Glasgow to Edinburgh via Falkirk Line, Stirling / Alloa / Dunblane Lines,
Shotts Line, Carstairs Line, North Berwick Line 		2017-
4 24
Class 700 Desiro City EMU 8 100 160 60 Govia Thameslink Railway Cambridge to Brighton via London Bridge

Peterborough to Horsham via London Bridge

2015-18
12 55

High-speed trains

Class Image Type Cars per set Top speed Number Operator Routes Built
mph km/h
Class 43 HST InterCity 125 Diesel locomotive LNER: 2 x 9
XC: 2 x 7
EMT: 2 x 8 		125 200 58 London North Eastern Railway
CrossCountry
East Midlands Trains 		London North Eastern Railway Services from London King's Cross to: Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Inverness as well as daily services to Lincoln Central, Hull and Harrogate.
CrossCountry joins the ECML at either Doncaster or York and continuing to Newcastle, Edinburgh, Glasgow Central, Dundee and Aberdeen
East Midlands operates a limited service of HSTs which joins the ECML at Doncaster and continuing to Leeds 		1976-82
Mark 3 Coach Passenger coach 272 1975-88
Class 91 Intercity 225 Electric locomotive 2 x 9 140 225 31 London North Eastern Railway London King's Cross to: Edinburgh, Leeds, Glasgow Central, York and Newcastle 1988—91
Mark 4 carriage Passenger coach 302 1988-91
Driving Van Trailer Driving Van Trailer 31 1988-91
Class 180 Adelante DMU 5 125 200 11 Grand Central
Hull Trains 		Grand Central Services from London King's Cross to: Sunderland and Bradford Interchange.
Hull Trains Services from London King's Cross to: Hull 		2001
Class 220 Voyager DEMU 4 125 200 34 CrossCountry Joining the ECML at either Doncaster or York and continuing to Newcastle, Edinburgh, Glasgow Central, Dundee and Aberdeen 2000-01
Class 221 SuperVoyager DEMU 5 125 200 20 Virgin Trains VT: Services between Edinburgh to: London Euston via Birmingham and Preston 2001–2002
22 CrossCountry XC: Joining the ECML at either Doncaster or York and continuing to Newcastle, Edinburgh, Glasgow Central, Dundee and Aberdeen
Class 222 Meridian DEMU 4 125 200 4 East Midlands Trains East Midlands operates a limited summer Saturday service which joins the ECML at Doncaster and continuing to York and Scarborough 2003–5
5 17
7 6
Class 390 Pendolino EMU 9 or 11 140 (limited to 125) 225 (limited to 200) 56 Virgin Trains Edinburgh to: London Euston via Birmingham and Preston 2001-04
2009-12

Future

Class Image Type Cars per set Top speed Number Operator Routes Enter Service
mph km/h
Class 43 HST InterCity 125 Diesel locomotive 2 x 4
2 x 5 		125 200 54 Abellio ScotRail Highland Main Line, Edinburgh to Aberdeen Line 2018-
Mark 3 Coach Passenger coach 175
Class 68 Diesel locomotive 1 100 160 19 TransPennine Express Joining the ECML at York and continuing to Newcastle 2018–19
Mark 5A Passenger coach 5 125 201 52
Driving Trailer 14
Class 397 EMU 5 125 201 12 TransPennine Express Edinburgh to Manchester Airport and Liverpool Lime Street 2019
Class 717 EMU 6 100 161 25 Great Northern London Moorgate and London King's Cross to Welwyn Garden City, Hertford North, Stevenage,
and Letchworth Garden City 		2019-
Class 800 Azuma File:LNER Azuma.jpg Bi-Mode Multiple Unit 5 140 225 10 London North Eastern Railway London King's Cross to: Leeds, York, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Glasgow Central, Aberdeen and Inverness 2019-
9 13
Class 801 Azuma EMU 5 140 225 12 London King's Cross to: Leeds, York, Newcastle and Glasgow Central.
9 30
Class 802 AT300 Bi-Mode Multiple Unit 5 140 225 29 TransPennine Express
Hull Trains

East Coast Trains

Hull Trains Services from London King's Cross to: Hull/Beverley
TPE: Joining the ECML at York and continuing to Newcastle and Edinburgh

East Coast Trains: London King's Cross to Edinburgh

2019-

Operators

A train operated by the former main provider of services on the line, Virgin Trains East Coast
Overview of the ECML (in blue) and other north-south mainlines in the UK

The line's current principal operator is London North Eastern Railway (LNER), whose services include regular trains between King's Cross, the East Midlands, Yorkshire, the North East of England and Scotland. LNER is operated on behalf of the Department for Transport by a consortium of Arup Group, Ernst & Young and SNC-Lavalin Rail & Transit and took over from Virgin Trains East Coast on 24 June 2018.

Other operators of passenger trains on the line are:

Eurostar previously held the rights to run five trains a day on the line for services from continental Europe to cities north of London, as part of the Regional Eurostar plan, although such services have never been run.[31]

The overnight Caledonian Sleeper operated by Serco occasionally uses the ECML when engineering works prevent it from using its normal train path on the WCML.

DB Cargo UK, Direct Rail Services, Freightliner and GB Railfreight operate freight services.

In 2019 FirstGroup and Hitachi Rail secured rights from the Office of Road and Rail to run a new ‘open access’ service between the two capitals[32]

Development

Capacity problems

The ECML is one of the busiest lines on the British rail network and there is currently[when?] insufficient capacity on parts of the line to satisfy all the requirements of both passenger and freight operators.[33]

There are bottlenecks at the following locations:

  • The section of twin track within a four-line section at Welwyn North over the Digswell Viaduct and through the Welwyn tunnels[34]
  • The twin and triple-track sections located between Huntingdon and Peterborough.[35]
  • Just north of Newark station at a flat crossing with the Nottingham to Lincoln Line.[36]
  • The section of double track between Stoke Tunnel and Doncaster.[35]
  • Doncaster station has limited facilities for terminating branch trains on the up side of the station. This has been remedied with the opening of a new platform (platform 0) on the up side so that trains to and from the Thorne direction do not conflict with high-speed trains.[37][38]
  • The north throat of York station including Skelton Bridge Junction
  • South of Newcastle to Northallerton (which is also predominately double track), leading to proposals to reopen the Leamside line to passenger and freight traffic.[35][39]

Railway operations are vulnerable during high winds and there have been several de-wirements over the years due to the unusually wide spacing (up to 75 m) between the supporting masts of the overhead lines. The other cost-reduction measure was the use of headspan catenary support systems over the quadruple track sections – as employed in the Weaver Junction to Glasgow Electrification on the WCML during the 1970s. Headspans do not have mechanically independent registration (MIR) of each electrified road and thus are more complex to set up, compared to TTC (two-track cantilever) and portal style support structures, during installation [40]. In the event of a de-wirement of a given road, headspans result in the need to correctly set up the OLE of adjacent roads before the line can reopen to electric traction. This was a result of extreme pressure from the Department for Transport to reduce avoidable costs when the line was originally electrified between 1985 and 1990.[41]

Recent developments

  • The Allington Chord was constructed near Grantham in 2006, allowing services between Nottingham and Skegness to call at Grantham without having to use the ECML, trains now passing under the line. This provided sufficient extra capacity for 12 additional services between Leeds and London each day.[42][43]
  • A new platform at London King's Cross was opened on 20 May 2010. This was originally to be called "Platform Y".[44] Instead it has been named Platform 0 to avoid confusion of lettered and numbered platforms.
  • Connection of the ECML to Thameslink at Belle Isle Jnc. as part of the Thameslink Programme (for Thameslink and Great Northern commuter services to extend to Brighton, Horsham and Maidstone East).
  • At the southern end of York station a short length of fourth track was installed in early 2011 at Holgate Junction with accompanying OLE and signalling systems. This work helped to remove one of the bottlenecks on the East Coast Main Line. Previously, trains from Leeds would sometimes have to wait before entering the station. The improvement allows for better flow of trains in and out of the station.[44][45][46]
  • Provision of a £47m grade-separated junction to the north of Hitchin (the Hitchin flyover) enabling down Cambridge trains to cross the main line.[44][47][48] The work was completed by 26 June 2013[49]
  • Major remodelling of Peterborough station was completed during early 2014 providing three platform faces for services in the up direction towards London and two for ECML services travelling north on the down lines. An additional two platform faces are also available for Cross Country services to and from stations to the east of Peterborough.[44]
  • A new flying junction just south of Joan Croft level crossing in South Yorkshire to allow freight trains from Immingham to pass over the line on their way to Eggborough and Drax power stations, was completed in very early 2014. The project, known as the North Doncaster Chord, also replaced the level crossing on a minor road with a new overbridge just to the north of the original crossing point.[44][46]
  • Renewal and gauge enhancement of the Great Northern and Great Eastern Line which runs parallel to the ECML between Peterborough and Doncaster. This removes freight traffic from a heavily congested section of the ECML.
  • A new Rail operating centre (ROC), with training facilities, opened in early 2014 at the "Engineer's Triangle" in York. The ROC will enable signalling and day-to-day operations of the route to be undertaken in a single location. Signalling control/traffic management using ERTMS is scheduled to be introduced from 2020 on the ECML between London King's Cross and Doncaster - managed from the York ROC.
  • An £8.6 million redevelopment of Newcastle station was completed in 2014 enhancing the existing station and provide a state-of-the-art station for thousands of passengers.[50]
  • Provision of a new Up bay platform (Platform 0) at Doncaster station (part of the ECML Connectivity programme).
  • Platform extensions at Stevenage, Grantham, Newark North Gate, Northallerton, Durham and Edinburgh Waverley stations for the Intercity Express Programme.
  • Linespeed enhancement on the down slow line in the Fletton area (part of the ECML Connectivity programme) completed in March 2019.

Planned or proposed developments

See also: Intercity Express Programme

Most of the length of the ECML is capable of 140 mph subject to certain infrastructure upgrades. Below is the foreword of the Greengauge21 report:

"Upgrading the East Coast Main Line to 140 mph operation as a high priority alongside HS2 and to be delivered without delay. Newcastle London timings across a shorter route could closely match those achievable by HS2."[51]

The European Union Directive 96/48/EC, Annex 1 defines high-speed rail's minimum Speed Limit as 200 km/h (124 mph) on existing lines which have been specially upgraded.[52] The ECML can become a high-speed operational line.

Over the years successive infrastructure managers have developed schemes for route improvements.[26] The most recent of which is the £247 million "ECML Connectivity Fund" included in the 2012 HLOS[53] with the objective of increasing capacity and reducing journey times. Current plans include the following specific schemes:

  • King's Cross throat remodelling to improve capacity and introduce higher speed turnouts reducing journey times.
  • Power supply enhancement on the diversionary Hertford Loop route
  • Additional turnback facility at Gordon Hill (part of the ECML Connectivity programme).
  • Additional down platform and turnback facility at Stevenage (part of the ECML Connectivity programme) - now delayed from CP5 to CP6.
  • Re-quadrupling of the route between Huntingdon and Woodwalton (HW4T) which was rationalised in the 1980s during electrification (part of the ECML Connectivity programme). This also involves the closure and diversion of a level crossing at Abbots Ripton which was approved in November 2017.[54]
  • Enhanced passenger access to the platforms at Peterborough and Stevenage.
  • Werrington Grade Separation: A £200 million scheme to increase capacity north of Peterborough station by constructing a dive under to route rail traffic between the Stamford Lines and the GNGE line, thereby avoiding at-grade conflicts on the ECML. The project was approved in summer 2018 and groundwork construction started in September 2018.[55]
  • Replacement of the Flat Crossing at Newark with a flyover (scheme developed to GRIP Stage 2 by Jacobs)[56]
  • Upgrading of the Down Fast line at Shaftholme Junction from 100 mph to 125 mph and higher speed associated crossovers (part of the ECML Connectivity programme).
  • Modified north throat at York Station to reduce congestion for services calling at Platforms 9 - 11 (part of the ECML Connectivity programme)
  • Freight loops between York and Darlington (part of the ECML Connectivity programme).
  • Darlington station up fast line platform and future station remodelling as part of HS2.
  • Fitment of TASS Balises and Gauging/Structure works proposed by the open operator GNER (Alliance Rail) to enable tilt operation of Pendolino trains north of Darlington station, supporting its aspirations for express 3hr43min London to Edinburgh Services.

And on a more route wide basis the following projects:

  • Power supply upgrades (PSU) between Wood Green and Bawtry (Phase 1 - completed in September 2017) and Bawtry to Edinburgh (Phase 2), including some overhead lines (OLE) support improvements, rewiring of the contact and catenary wires, and headspan to portal conversions (HS2P) which were installed at Conington in January 2018.
  • The line between London King's Cross and Bawtry, on the approach to Doncaster, will be signalled with Level 2 ERTMS. The target date for operational ERTMS services is December 2018 with completion in 2020[57]
  • Level crossing closures between King's Cross and Doncaster: As of July 2015 this will no longer be conducted as a single closure of 73 level crossings but will be conducted on a case-by case basis (for example Abbots Ripton Level Crossing will close as part of the HW4T scheme.)[58]
  • Increasing maximum speeds on the fast lines between Woolmer Green and Dalton-on-Tees up to 140 mph (225 km/h) in conjunction with the introduction of the Intercity Express Programme, level crossing closures, ETRMS fitments, OLE rewiring and the OLE PSU - est. to cost £1.3 billion (2014). This project is referred to as "L2E4" or London to Edinburgh (in) 4 Hours. L2E4 examined the operation of the IEP at 140 mph on the ECML and the sections of track which can be upgraded to permit this, together with the engineering and operational costs.[59]

Accidents

The ECML has been witness to a number of incidents resulting in death and serious injury:

Title Date Killed Injured Note
Welwyn Tunnel rail crash 9 June 1866 2 2 Three-train collision in tunnel, caused by guard's failure to protect train and signalling communications error
Hatfield rail crash (1870) 26 December 1870 8 3 Wheel disintegrated causing derailment killing six passengers and two bystanders
Abbots Ripton rail disaster 21 January 1876 13 59 Flying Scotsman crashed during a blizzard.
Morpeth rail crash (1877) 25 March 1877 5 17 Derailment caused by faulty track.
Thirsk rail crash (1892) 2 November 1892 10 43 Signalman forgot about a goods train standing at his box and accepted the Scotch Express onto his line.
Grantham rail accident 19 August 1906 14 17 Runaway or overspeed on junction curve causing derailment - no definite cause established.
Welwyn Garden City rail crash 15 June 1935 14 29 Two trains collided due to a signaller's error.
King's Cross railway accident 4 February 1945 2 26 Train slipped on gradient and rolled back into station.
Potters Bar rail crash 10 February 1946 2 17 Local train hit buffers fouling main line with wreckage hit by two further trains.
Doncaster rail crash (1947) 9 August 1947 18 188 King's Cross to Leeds train was incorrectly signalled into a section already occupied by a stationary train, which resulted in a rear-end collision.
Goswick rail crash 26 October 1947 28 65 Edinburgh-London Flying Scotsman failed to slow down for a diversion and derailed. Signal passed at danger
Doncaster rail crash 16 March 1951 14 12 Train derailed south of the station and struck a bridge pier.
Goswick Goods train derailment 28 October 1953 1 'Glasgow to Colchester' Goods train was derailed at Goswick.[60][61]
Connington South rail crash 5 March 1967 5 18 Express train was derailed.
Thirsk rail crash 31 July 1967 7 45 Cement train derailed and hit by North bound express hauled by prototype locomotive. DP2
Morpeth rail crash (1969) 7 May 1969 6 46 Excessive speed on curve.
Penmanshiel Tunnel collapse 17 March 1979 2 Two workers killed when the tunnel collapsed during engineering works.
Morpeth rail crash (1984) 24 June 1984 35 Excessive speed on curve.
Newcastle Central railway station collision 30 November 1989 15 Two InterCity expresses collided.[62]
Morpeth rail crash (1992) 13 November 1992 1 Collision between two freight trains.
Morpeth rail crash (1994) 27 June 1994 1 Excessive speed led to the locomotive and the majority of carriages overturning.
Hatfield rail crash 17 October 2000 4 70 InterCity 225 derailed due to a failure to replace a fractured rail. The accident highlighted poor management at Railtrack and led to its partial re-nationalisation.
Great Heck rail crash 28 February 2001 10 82 A Land Rover Defender swerved down an embankment off the M62 motorway into the path of a southbound GNER Intercity 225, which then was struck by a freight train hauled by a Class 66
Potters Bar rail crash (2002) 10 May 2002 7 70 Derailment caused by a badly maintained set of points. Resulted in the end of the use of external contractors for routine maintenance.

Passenger volume

Station usage
Station name 2002–03 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23
Edinburgh to Doncaster
Edinburgh Waverley 12,470,767 14,219,772 14,645,022 15,285,837 16,169,294 17,571,392 19,312,458 19,957,346
Musselburgh 161,121 170,852 193,386 202,895 306,185 385,274 389,240 364,690
Wallyford 90,351 110,686 126,719 135,819 159,949 209,260 227,874 221,772
Prestonpans 91,789 108,398 129,192 142,604 170,388 192,574 202,296 206,808
Longniddry 117,121 122,678 135,040 140,490 161,410 165,716 157,908 154,040
Drem 73,871 78,009 80,563 84,905 99,735 109,418 107,844 100,208
Dunbar 224,552 266,142 288,282 299,172 332,377 339,094 318,976 333,916
Berwick-upon-Tweed 331,108 378,727 395,000 380,555 391,772 405,828 419,454 454,568
Chathill 1,482 1,503 2,279 1,037 1,847 1,864 2,612 2,642
Alnmouth 86,436 134,902 165,049 172,170 181,912 197,222 192,380 214,230
Acklington 727 917 1,137 985 948 778 268 108
Widdrington 5,481 7,740 6,618 5,523 4,707 6,314 6,398 5,124
Pegswood 2,417 3,564 2,940 2,281 2,332 2,788 2,688 1,102
Morpeth 123,142 163,627 177,497 188,798 206,458 226,652 228,252 243,982
Cramlington 40,886 68,472 77,304 83,314 87,737 89,828 87,374 85,454
Manors 1,409 1,882 1,390 1,002 1,406 2,574 2,998 2,976
Newcastle Central 4,869,662 5,728,348 6,108,240 6,230,498 6,447,267 7,098,624 7,163,284 7,500,338
Chester-le-Street 86,686 126,033 151,486 160,799 192,519 186,930 197,398 205,572
Durham 1,359,425 1,649,935 1,739,801 1,774,271 1,858,078 1,996,852 2,051,432 2,180,044
Darlington 1,509,282 1,795,683 1,906,131 2,013,516 2,099,480 2,184,436 2,164,428 2,209,274
Northallerton 293,137 380,622 413,038 453,459 488,647 531,676 544,070 556,990
Thirsk 124,877 142,359 147,333 148,260 161,474 173,944 174,826 189,288
York 4,985,396 5,795,978 6,148,333 6,363,387 6,534,388 6,802,004 6,855,682 7,173,016
Leeds to Doncaster
Leeds 11,285,693 14,733,503 16,059,517 17,356,732 18,121,572 22,421,732 21,978,372 24,491,616
Outwood 108,221 166,801 187,314 208,174 211,079 301,388 299,434 354,792
Wakefield Westgate 1,451,587 1,760,373 1,846,988 1,877,981 1,610,947 2,017,854 1,866,320 2,148,410
Sandal and Agbrigg 86,415 97,328 107,190 118,718 123,387 162,448 158,610 180,046
Fitzwilliam 79,428 105,216 116,088 126,419 142,144 180,606 178,518 195,542
South Elmsall 209,839 253,244 265,547 281,906 304,642 353,696 351,194 351,140
Adwick 115,496 176,479 175,754 156,826 160,541 253,986 244,904 247,964
Bentley (South Yorkshire) 81,494 114,419 123,292 98,641 95,264 159,788 153,550 152,994
Doncaster to London King's Cross
Doncaster 2,347,584 2,772,500 2,837,400 2,790,811 2,903,339 3,780,314 3,676,152 3,784,752
Retford 252,113 298,398 320,410 363,084 357,812 376,066 374,322 399,996
Newark North Gate 335,126 377,172 400,286 1,187,545 923,070 960,948 924,528 976,526
Grantham 806,299 917,447 935,848 999,186 1,032,641 1,054,634 1,033,374 1,071,320
Peterborough 3,386,580 3,689,729 3,720,034 3,960,429 4,070,725 4,099,754 3,930,704 4,076,724
Huntingdon 1,277,164 1,360,288 1,373,378 1,448,338 1,564,270 1,592,696 1,542,100 1,629,780
St Neots 715,993 768,708 822,064 888,971 979,356 1,029,338 1,001,248 1,091,388
Sandy 344,127 391,673 400,416 424,161 449,698 446,186 424,906 444,122
Biggleswade 582,318 638,358 653,872 689,369 751,155 734,458 703,386 739,632
Arlesey 256,882 327,106 349,725 369,425 398,128 413,870 411,056 444,680
Hitchin 1,806,889 1,948,003 2,049,217 2,368,121 2,543,526 2,569,494 2,478,832 2,594,012
Stevenage 3,267,031 3,495,795 3,539,052 3,968,033 4,206,418 4,257,732 4,093,020 4,222,776
Knebworth 328,011 344,003 343,752 392,409 457,813 480,706 471,564 494,182
Welwyn North 368,789 406,270 395,304 428,164 455,322 468,312 454,296 485,856
Welwyn Garden City 1,717,434 2,002,197 2,020,502 2,322,204 2,502,240 2,522,398 2,385,014 2,431,948
Hatfield 1,130,146 1,407,219 1,429,839 1,642,091 1,768,214 1,904,588 1,836,546 1,928,032
Welham Green 114,701 125,769 120,413 134,934 147,553 153,116 145,220 160,884
Brookmans Park 136,394 143,537 150,325 167,346 185,759 198,784 191,500 203,654
Potters Bar 1,382,046 1,440,036 1,445,179 1,604,056 1,681,137 1,649,420 1,569,258 1,599,666
Hadley Wood 181,811 206,767 244,961 344,989 393,690 402,194 353,224 343,208
New Barnet 658,099 673,521 674,532 1,057,667 1,126,244 1,013,310 1,029,964 1,069,706
Oakleigh Park 571,227 601,453 623,602 993,003 993,011 909,208 917,232 952,304
New Southgate 291,538 291,290 299,461 476,100 550,758 498,252 512,446 553,174
Alexandra Palace 592,357 609,875 692,845 1,042,833 1,310,940 1,057,712 1,063,484 1,114,960
Hornsey 391,655 362,488 381,659 737,369 1,031,000 896,096 942,828 1,068,740
Harringay 387,794 328,145 317,815 775,050 1,102,321 901,968 963,282 1,039,098
Finsbury Park 3,006,865 5,021,634 5,041,828 5,875,109 5,545,881 5,492,164 6,566,019 7,337,297
London Kings Cross 19,137,693 20,805,979 20,301,663 22,503,777 23,945,017 24,641,427 24,817,616 26,254,644
The annual passenger usage is based on sales of tickets in stated financial years from Office of Rail and Road estimates of station usage. The statistics are for passengers arriving and departing from each station and cover twelve-month periods that start in April. Methodology may vary year on year. Usage from the periods 2019-20 and especially 2020-21 onwards have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic
East Coast train at London King's Cross railway station

The cuttings and tunnel entrances just north of King's Cross make a memorable smoky appearance in the 1955 Ealing comedy film The Ladykillers.[63] Also during the 1950s, the line featured in the 1954 documentary short Elizabethan Express. Later, the 1971 British gangster film Get Carter features a journey from London King's Cross to Newcastle in the opening credits.[64] During 2009, the motoring show Top Gear featured a long distance race, in which LNER A1 60163 Tornado, a Jaguar XK120 and a Vincent Black Shadow competed to be the fastest vehicle to travel the full length of the line from London to Edinburgh.[65]

The route has been featured in several train simulator games. Trainz Simulator 2010 features the route between London and York, Trainz Simulator 12 extends the route to Newcastle, and Trainz: A New Era brings it all the way to Edinburgh, allowing the entire 393-mile route to be driven. All three routes take place during the 1970s, around the time the InterCity 125 was introduced; this is reinforced by instructions in the "HST Southbound Express" session not to move until the guard has locked the doors, since the trains did not have pneumatic locks initially; doing so will lead to an automatic failure. Other rolling stock includes Class 37s, Class 47s, and Class 105s, plus Mark 2 coaches. TS12's version added Class 55 Deltics and Class 313s, as well as additional pre-made, pre-scripted sessions.[citation needed]

King's Cross Station is also known as the starting point of the Hogwarts Express from the books and films of the Harry Potter franchise. This connection is marked by a tourist attraction within the station concourse, featuring the Platform 9¾ sign and a luggage trolley partially embedded in the station wall with an owl cage and suitcases on it.[66]

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