East Coast Trains
East Coast Trains operates around 155 rail services each weekday and carry more than 18 million passengers annually. The East Coast route comprises over 920 miles of track and passes through 53 railway stations.
The current East Coast Main Line Company is supported by Directly Operated Railways (DOR), and is in public ownership.
Following the privatisation of the railways in the 1990's by the government, and after GNER's franchise expired in 2006, East Coast was briefly run by the National Express Group, under the name National Express East Coast. However in July 2009, the National Express Group announced that it would not be able to financially support its East Coast franchise after the end of 2009.
East Coast Trains was then handed back to the Department for Transport and the East Coast railway service ceased to be run by National Express (NXEC).
It is now a new subsidiary called East Coast Main Line Company Ltd, or very simply, East Coast.
- East Coast runs 155 services per weekday, an increase from the 100 operated when it started in 1996, and 102 services on Saturdays and 99 on Sundays.
- It carried 19 million passengers from April 2012 - March 2013.
- East Coast operates on routes totaling 936 miles, from London to Peterborough, the East Midlands, Leeds, York, Newcastle, Edinburgh and beyond to Aberdeen, Inverness and Glasgow.
- Since the introduction of 22 May 2011 timetable, it has also operated return services from London to Harrogate and Lincoln.
- The principal operating line is the East Coast Main Line between London and Edinburgh.
- The longest journey is between Inverness and London, a distance of 580.56 miles.
- East Coast has 44 trains; 30 electric trains, and 14 diesel trains, known as HSTs (High Speed Trains).
- East Coast was the first UK train route to offer wireless internet on a moving rail vehicle.
- East Coast has around 2,800 employees at stations, depots and offices from Inverness to London.
Contacting East Coast Trains
Customer Relations
East Coast Trains
Freepost RSRJ-LJCX-GHST
Plymouth
PL4 6AB
Primary phone: 08457 225 333 or +44 1902 627971
Cycle Reservations Tel: 08457 225 225 or +44 1925 523070
Assisted Travel Tel: 08457 225 444 or +44 1902 627971
East Coast Train Tickets Explained
There are three primary groups of train tickets whose prices often vary quite considerably. Huge savings are able to be enjoyed simply by choosing the type of ticket most suited for your East Coast journey.
The three main types of East Coast train tickets and their essential characteristics are:-
Advance East Coast Train Tickets
- Not flexible: for travel on a specified East Coast train on a specified date
- Savings of up to 80% (sometimes more) compared with buying a ticket on the day of travel
- Limited availability of the really cheap tickets but may be booked up to 12 week in advance
- Are available on all long-distance routes, but not available for most short journeys
- Must be booked in advance and not later than the day before travel
- Are not refundable, but can be amended for a fee
Click Here for more information on Advance Train Tickets to or from East Coast
Off-Peak and Super Off-Peak East Coast Train Tickets
- With Off-Peak train tickets you can travel on any East Coast train outside the “peak” hours
- With Super Off-Peak tickets you may be restricted to traveling later, or not in the evening peak
- Off-Peak and Super Off-Peak Return tickets enable you to travel back on any date within a calendar month
- Off-Peak and Super Off-Peak Day Return and Single tickets are valid for one day only
- Off-Peak and Super Off-Peak train tickets can be booked up to 15 minutes before the departure of your train
- Off-Peak and Super Off-Peak East Coast train tickets are refundable
Click Here for information on Off-Peak and Super Off-Peak East Coast Train Tickets
Anytime East Coast Train Tickets
- Offer complete flexibility: travel on any East Coast train on the date(s) your ticket is valid
- Anytime Single tickets allow you to to travel on the date shown on the ticket or on the next day
- Anytime Return tickets allow you to travel on the date shown on the ticket or within four days
- Anytime East Coast train tickets are available on all routes
- Anytime train tickets can be booked up to 15 minutes before the departure of your train
- Anytime East Coast train tickets are refundable
- Anytime train tickets cost more than other types of train tickets
Click Here for information on Anytime Train Tickets for East Coast trains
Other Types of East Coast Travel Tickets
In addition to the three types of primary train tickets for East Coast rail journeys there are:-
- London Travelcards
- PLUSBUS tickets
- Group tickets
- Groupsave tickets
- Sleeper service tickets
- Rail & Sail tickets (Portsmouth to Ryde and England to Ireland)
- Season tickets (any ticket that is valid for a week or longer)
Click Here for more detailed information on these and rail card train tickets.
Cheapest East Coast Train Ticket
Rail Saver offer an impartial and comprehensive range of point to point online East Coast train ticket price comparisons for all UK trains including to London, Balmossie, Bearsted, Bicester North and Blaydon, to mention just a few popular rail journeys, with the option of ticket reservations for all train operating companies across the National Rail network.
Using the best fare search and train ticket issue service of our preferred train ticket retailer we will always find you the best available East Coast train fare, saving you time and as much money as possible when you book your East Coast train tickets online in advance using Railsaver - and that is our promise to you.
