How fast do LNER trains go?

Our new shiny Azuma train can reach speeds of up to 125 miles an hour. Not only will your journey be more comfortable and smoother, it will be quicker.



LNER (London North Eastern Railway) operates trains on the East Coast Main Line in the UK. Their speed depends entirely on the type of train:

Azuma Trains (Class 800/801/802)

These are LNER’s current flagship high-speed trains. Maximum Design Speed: 125 mph (200 km/h) on the existing East Coast Main Line. In-Cab Signalling Stretch: On a specific upgraded section between London King’s Cross and Leeds (via the ECML and part of the Transpennine route), they can run at up to 140 mph (225 km/h). This is currently the fastest regular service speed in the UK.

InterCity 225 Trains (Class 91 Locomotive + Mark 4 Coaches)

These are the older electric trains being phased out but still occasionally in service. Maximum Speed: 125 mph (200 km/h).

Important Context: Linespeed vs. Service Speed

  • The maximum linespeed on most of the East Coast Main Line is 125 mph. Even the Azumas are limited to this outside the special 140 mph section.
  • Average journey speeds are lower due to stops, curves, slower sections through stations, and other traffic. For example, the fastest London to Edinburgh service averages about 100 mph for the 393-mile journey.

International Comparison

  • While fast for the UK, these speeds are not as high as dedicated high-speed lines like those in France (TGV, up to 200 mph / 320 km/h), Japan (Shinkansen, up to 200 mph),

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The HS1 line is used by Eurostar services and Javelin commuter services from Kent, although the latter have a max speed of 140mph. Across the rest of the UK, trains have a maximum operational speed of 125mph, although many are capable of speeds of up to 140mph.

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Azuma means “east” in Japanese. Our new trains use Japanese bullet train technology, built by Hitachi's UK manufacturing team in County Durham, using parts supplied from the North East.

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High-speed trains can generally reach 300–350 km/h (190–220 mph). On mixed-use HSR lines, passenger train service can attain peak speeds of 200–250 km/h (120–160 mph).

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How fast does the Eurostar go? The Eurostar travels through the Channel Tunnel at a speed of 100 miles per hour (160kph) although when the train is outside the tunnel it reaches speed of 186 miles per hour (300 kph).

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Read on for the fastest trains in the world.
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In 1934, Scotsman was clocked at 100mph on a special test run—officially the first locomotive in the UK to reach that speed. The test run proved to the LNER's directors that steam power could provide high speeds, negating a plan for the company to use diesel power on its high-speed services.

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LNER stands for London North Eastern Railway. We run up and down the East Coast mainline from busy London right up the east side of England to stunning Inverness.

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In 1923, Flying Scotsman was the first locomotive built at the Doncaster Works by the then newly formed LNER, which also celebrates its centenary this year. City of Doncaster Council and London North Eastern Railway (LNER) hosted the special visit, with support from the National Railway Museum.

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Who runs LNER? The Department for Transport, or DfT owns LNER. They took over the franchise after Virgin Trains East Coast handed it back to the government. For us it's a brilliant opportunity to bring rail travel up to speed and journey into the future.

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London Underground train speeds vary across our network, from as slow as 15MPH, up to 60MPH. The speed of the trains can be impacted by a range of factors including the track infrastructure, the type of signalling system, the distance between stations, and the frequency of services in the timetable.

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In addition, the tracks, signals, rail cars and software made in the U.S. are costlier than imports, largely because the government has not funded rail the way European and Asian countries have, experts say.

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Novocherkassk 4E5K for Russian Railways, 17,838 horsepower All hail Mother Russia: with 17,838 horsepower, the Novocherkassk 4E5K locomotive is the most powerful in the world. It seems like digital espionage isn't Russia's only path to power.

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The Eurostar travels through the Channel Tunnel at a speed of 100 miles per hour (160kph) although when the train is outside the tunnel it reaches speed of 186 miles per hour (300 kph).

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But then, why has the Eurostar train company decided to stop the famous service, coveted by many British people? The company points out financial issues caused by the covid-19 pandemic and new logistics related to Brexit.

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What's going on with the service? It depends which trains and what times you are looking at - Eurostar is very expensive in times of high demand because the cheap tickets get snapped up but can be relatively affordable if you choose less popular times.

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With close to 4000 kilometres of track, the Spanish high-speed AVE trains operate on the longest high-speed network in Europe. Running at speeds of up to 310 km/h, this extensive network allows for fast connections between cities in Spain. Travel from Madrid to Barcelona in less than 3 hours!

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Far down in the deep green forests of the West Midlands in England lies what claims to be the shortest railway branch line in Europe. The Stourbridge Town line measures a titchy 0.8 miles long with a mere two stops, travelling from Stourbridge Town to Stourbridge Junction.

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