THE fastest train journey between London and Glasgow will be cut to just 4 hours 10 minutes from today.

Two months after the £9 billion West Coast Route Modernisation project was completed, the final stage of the ‘Virgin High Frequency’ (VHF) timetable is implemented from 16 February.

This includes the introduction of a new fast service, leaving London Euston at 16.30, calling only at Preston, due to arrive in Glasgow Central at 20.40. 

Last December, Virgin Trains increased the number of weekday services — using tilting Pendolinos with a top speed of 125 mph (200 km/h) — in each direction between London Euston and Glasgow from nine to 13 with typical schedules for the 401 miles then reduced by around half an hour to 4 hours 32 minutes.

The new service shaves a further 22 minutes off Virgin’s previous best journey time and is aimed at business travellers returning to Lancashire and Scotland. With its first stop at Preston, the train is due to run the 209 miles from London in exactly two hours at an average speed of 104.5 mph.

Intermediate stops previously made by the 16:30 from London - Glasgow will be transferred to a new train at 16:33 to Preston.

•  The fastest-ever London-Glasgow journey was made in December 1984, when a prototype Advanced Passenger Train (APT) completed the journey in 3hours 52 minutes, including one stop.

London - Chester service boosted

VIRGIN Trains also boosts the London – Chester service from 16 February, with 13 direct trains to and from London on Monday to Fridays and a typical journey time of 2 hours 5 minutes. Regular direct trains will run at weekends, too, with typical journey times of 2 hours 15 minutes.

There is good news for business travellers who will be able to catch early direct trains, arriving in London at 08:36 or in Chester from London at 09:12.

Virgin Trains Chief Executive Tony Collins said: “The new weekday Chester timetable is the final element in massive improvements to our services following the £9 billion upgrade of the West Coast Main Line by Network Rail. More seats and reduced journey times are huge wins for passengers. We are looking forward to providing a great service to a great city.”

Back to News