Talk:East Coast Main Line

East Coast Main Line and HS2
High Speed 2 will see big changes to services on the ECML as most fast trains from London to York, Newcastle, and Edinburgh will be diverted to HS2 and, in the case of Edinburgh, the WCML. I think this is important to mention given the section is about capacity problems. I don't want to fall foul of WP:WAR so would be good to hear others' thoughts on how to improve this section of the article. I think other parts (like platform additions) are unnecessary and have removed some of this info as it's already well documented on the individual station pages. NemesisAT (talk) 17:03, 12 January 2021 (UTC)
 * Forgot to add, this is the "Planned or proposed developments" so I don't think uncertainty over the eastern leg of HS2, as mentioned by the other editor, is an issue here.NemesisAT (talk) 17:06, 12 January 2021 (UTC)
 * I agree, it's certainly important to note it in the planned or proposed developments section. Bellowhead678 (talk) 21:12, 12 January 2021 (UTC)
 * Thanks, I'm also thinking the much of the bullets at the end would be better incorporated into the article. I'm working on it right now, personally I think it will work better to put everything which has happened already into the History section and keep the final section exclusively for future proposals that haven't happened yet. NemesisAT (talk) 22:12, 12 January 2021 (UTC)

Goodbye eastern leg!! We’ll need 140mph on the ECML now M. Lala-Raykar (talk) 12:12, 11 February 2023 (UTC)

Journey Times
There is no section showing current journey times, average and fastest, such as London to Edinburgh, Newcastle, York, etc.  — Preceding unsigned comment added by Wisdom-inc (talk • contribs) 00:23, 19 April 2022 (UTC)
 * WP:NOTTIMETABLE, WP:NOTTRAVEL, plus: who's going to commit to keeping it updated? Railway companies have that obigation, we do not. -- Red rose64 &#x1f339; (talk) 14:39, 19 April 2022 (UTC)
 * To be fair seems to have been asking for information on journey times, rather than a timetable per-se, which could be regarded as encyclopedic, as it would give an indication as to the state of the infrastructure and rolling stock etc. It might be interesting to compare how journey times have evolved over the years, for example the fastest London-Edinburgh journey time a century ago was about 8½ hours, whereas it's now about 4. G-13114 (talk) 15:37, 19 April 2022 (UTC)
 * Yes. Current times and a reference to previous times to give an indication of how the line has improved.   The line is being upgraded so proposed new times, if available, would be informative when available. Could be in a table.  Wisdom-inc (talk) 16:07, 19 April 2022 (UTC)
 * Personally I don't see why not, as long as it is reliably sourced with historical sources and kept reasonably straightforward. I wouldn't list every possible journey, but information on Edinburgh-London journey times for example seems manageable. NemesisAT (talk) 17:01, 19 April 2022 (UTC)
 * London-Doncaster, London-Newcastle, London-Edinburgh. Would give a indication and also indicate which are the fast stretches. Wisdom-inc (talk) 16:11, 23 April 2022 (UTC)

Large amount of material deleted
I see quite a bit of material has been deleted because it is no longer planned but has happened. Shouldn't that material (obviously reworded with verb tense changes etc ) be relocated to current infrastructure and history of improvements rather than deleted completely? GRALISTAIR (talk) 01:49, 5 August 2022 (UTC)


 * I added back the bit about Werrington but in a different section. I reworded slightly and fully referenced it with completion date etc. GRALISTAIR (talk) 19:13, 5 August 2022 (UTC)

Addition of the Class 755
Class 755 should be included as well. They operate services from Ipswich to Peterborough, linking the GEML and ECML together. Tlifts701 (talk) 22:02, 27 November 2022 (UTC)

Route definition and description
The "Dunbar Loop" does not exist, except as a transport interchange in Canada. There is a platform/passenger loop line at Dunbar, but most stations have these and they are not separate lines to be mentioned here. I will therefore remove it.

The given reference of https://web.archive.org/web/20160304113042/http://www.networkrail.co.uk/RoutePlans/PDF/RouteG-EastCoastandNorthEast.pdf is not very good as it includes several routes which would not usually be considered to be part of the ECML, but still doesn't include a "Dunbar Loop":

"The key components of the route are described below:


 * the main line from King’s Cross to Edinburgh which forms the core of the route
 * the line from Doncaster to Leeds
 * a loop off the ECML via Hertford North which is mainly used by suburban and freight services
 * a branch from Finsbury Park to Moorgate, used only by inner suburban services on Mondays to Fridays
 * a branch linking Hitchin to the West Anglia Main Line south of Cambridge
 * the North Berwick branch
 * the Peterborough – Spalding – Sleaford – Lincoln route
 * the Newark – Lincoln – Market Rasen – Barnetby route
 * the Gainsborough Central – Brigg – Barnetby route
 * the Lincoln to Black Carr Junction (Doncaster) route
 * the line from Northallerton to Newcastle via the Durham Coast, which passes through Stockton, Hartlepool and Sunderland, and includes the South Hylton branch of the Metro network
 * the Newcastle – MetroCentre – Hexham – Carlisle route
 * the Darlington – Middlesbrough – Redcar – Saltburn route
 * the single track branches from Darlington to Bishop Auckland and Middlesbrough to Whitby
 * freight only lines: the through line from Norton Junctions to Ferryhill (sometimes used for passenger train diversions), the Blyth & Tyne freight network, and a number of freight branches."

78.33.10.10 (talk) 10:59, 9 February 2023 (UTC)


 * Section SRS G.11 Border – Edinburgh acknowledges the existence of a number of loops between the borders and Edinburgh, including an up/down loop at Dunbar. However as this only exists as a means for mainline traffic to bypass the station, along with others on the line, it hardly merits mention in the article and thus has rightly been removed. 10mmsocket (talk) 12:13, 9 February 2023 (UTC)

Lead image revisited
I really like the lead image. @EpicChefUK recently changed the caption on the image to point at the class 801 instead of class 800. I reverted the change because the image, uploaded to Commons by @G-13114, says it's an 800. Is it though? The class is not mentioned on the original geograph page, and zooming into the image is fruitless because the unit number is not clear. What is it then? Thoughts? 10mmsocket (talk) 11:18, 11 February 2023 (UTC)

For me it looked like it said 801 but I wasn’t sure. I wonder if there should be an umbrella page for the 800 series given there are so many variants (800, 801, 802, 803, 805, 807, 810). M. Lala-Raykar (talk) 12:11, 11 February 2023 (UTC)


 * - Hitachi A-train. Mattdaviesfsic (talk) 15:36, 11 February 2023 (UTC)
 * As far as I know both types are made from the same bodyshell, and are indistinguishable from sight. The only difference between them is that the 800s have more diesel generator units fitted, to let them run off-wire. So it could be either type, and you're right, you can't see the number on that photo. Another possibility to link to could be Intercity Express Programme. G-13114 (talk) 16:20, 11 February 2023 (UTC)
 * I know this isn't directly related to Wikipedia but I always thought that under Great British Railways the 800 series should be given the generic name "InterCity SET" (Super Express Train).
 * Many people might think "InterCity IET" but that would mean InterCity InterCity Express Train...
 * Besides, if it's not three letters or three numbers it sounds wrong. And yes, the 390s would be InterCity APT. M. Lala-Raykar (talk) 01:04, 15 February 2023 (UTC)

Class 155 York to Hambleton
Can someone add the class 155 to fleet used on the ECML or is this not enough distance? York to Hambleton Jn. I'm new and unsure how to edit tables, apologies. SpeedyWombat88 (talk) 10:08, 30 April 2024 (UTC)
 * What is your source? Please see WP:V. -- Red rose64 &#x1f339; (talk) 18:05, 30 April 2024 (UTC)
 * ‘Services between Selby and York also use the line from Hambleton Junction to York.’
 * on the same article, under ‘operators’. https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:W33588/2024-04-30/detailed#allox_id=0 Also shows the train using Hambleton junction. There are photos too, if you look up Class 155 East Coast Mainline. SpeedyWombat88 (talk) 18:12, 30 April 2024 (UTC)
 * RealTimeTrains is not considered to be a reliable source. It might show that a Class 155 was used on this specific service on this particular day, but cannot support any claim that it is a normal occurrence. -- Red rose64 &#x1f339; (talk) 21:02, 30 April 2024 (UTC)
 * I mean if you check the timings throughout the entire day, or go and see it yourself then you’ll be able to confirm. It’s on the same article later on, im not sure how else you want me to prove it really. SpeedyWombat88 (talk) 21:04, 30 April 2024 (UTC)
 * if you check the timings throughout the entire day, or go and see it yourself then you’ll be able to confirm - please see WP:NOR. -- Red rose64 &#x1f339; (talk) 21:52, 30 April 2024 (UTC)