LNER Restores Flying Scotsman Service to Historic Mid-Morning Time Slot

To mark the reinstatement of departure times that more closely reflect the service’s historic schedule, with departures at 10:00 from Edinburgh to London and 10:30 from London to Edinburgh, customers travelling on the morning of Monday 18 May will be welcomed with special in-station performances from Celtic rock band, The Red Hot Chilli Pipers.   

Customers travelling on the two services will also be treated to a specially curated Scottish-themed onboard menu, including haggis, neeps and tatties.  

Looking ahead, First Class customers will be able to enjoy a special Flying Scotsman menu - a fitting nod to the history and heritage of this iconic service - alongside bespoke placemats featuring a modern reimagining of the legendary Flying Scotsman logo.

While the Flying Scotsman service has always remained part of the LNER timetable, it has for some time been the early morning service from Edinburgh - leaving before 6am and with no northbound equivalent. The introduction of the new industry-wide, faster timetable in December 2025 has allowed it to be brought much closer to its original timings. 

The service itself dates back to 1862 and officially adopted the Flying Scotsman name in 1924. From then on, it became famous for its simultaneous 10:00 am departures from London King’s Cross and Edinburgh.  

The revised timetable reflects that heritage as closely as possible within today’s railway network. Customers can now follow in the historic footsteps of the Flying Scotsman service while enjoying the comfort, speed and convenience of a modern-day LNER Azuma train.  

Separately, the Flying Scotsman locomotive – designed by Sir Nigel Gresley and built in Doncaster – entered service in 1923. Although closely linked to the service, it did not always operate the service itself.  

The locomotive went on to break world records, becoming the first steam locomotive to officially reach 100mph. It also toured the globe, securing its place as one of the most iconic symbols of Britain’s railway heritage.  

The return of the Flying Scotsman service to its traditional timings also comes during Gresley 150, the year in which the railway industry is celebrating the 150th anniversary of Sir Nigel Gresley’s birth. A series of commemorative events and activities is planned throughout 2026, with further celebrations set to take place in June.  

Stuart Thomas, Communications Director at LNER, said: 

“It’s fantastic to see the Flying Scotsman service move much closer to its historic departure timings.   

“The service became famous for its simultaneous 10:00 departures from London King’s Cross and Edinburgh, and these revised departure times are as close as we can get to that today. We’re really looking forward to The Red-Hot Chilli Pipers giving both the northbound and southbound services a rousing send-off.   

“2026 is also the year the railway industry is marking Gresley 150, celebrating the life and legacy of Sir Nigel Gresley, whose designs helped define a golden age of rail travel.”  

Tim Dunn, railway historian and broadcaster, said: 

"The Flying Scotsman service is one of the most powerful names through a century of British railway travel. It is synonymous with speed, punctuality, regularity and quality. In its early years, it became famous for its simultaneous 10am departures from both London and Edinburgh, so bringing today’s timetable much closer to that is a wonderful nod to its truly iconic heritage." 

"Named express train services were once more common than now, but the Flying Scotsman name isn't just a niche detail for rail enthusiasts: it's a name that should resonate with passengers who value history, tradition and service. 21st Century travellers know that it's often better to fly by electric train than to fly by oil-guzzling plane: with the Flying Scotsman, I hope even more will realise that they too can make the switch."