THE full timetable on the West Coast route has now been introduced following a ‘bedding-in’ process after the £9 billion modernisation work was completed.

More than 1,000 extra services were introduced last December, but some were held back by Network Rail to allow time for the new timetable to settle in.

Now those services have been introduced, as from 16 February – the final timetable step following completion of the route’s upgrade.

A further 16 daily Virgin Trains services have been added to December’s extra 100, six more services have been added to London Midland’s extra 52 and Southern now has an extension to Milton Keynes of its 32 daily trains between Watford and south and west London.

Completion has enabled Virgin Trains to run its fastest ever scheduled service between London Euston and Glasgow. Aimed at business travellers returning to Scotland, the 16.30 departure from the capital is due into Glasgow Central just four hours and 10 minutes later, having called only at Preston.

Meanwhile, high-speed domestic services linking Ashford, Kent and Ebbsfleet with St Pancras International which were scheduled to launch in December are likely to start early, with passengers able to enjoy a limited ‘preview’ service this summer.

Southeastern is due to introduce 140mph Class 395 trains – which will slash journey times between Kent and London – from 13 December, and is expected to publish timetable information in May.

But introductory preparations have gone so well the company now hopes to launch a preview service from Ashford and Ebbsfleet to St Pancras International in the summer.

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