Direct Stirling-London link set to be axed at end of 2024 as consultation concludes

Stuart McFarlane
·2-min read

Stirling’s only direct rail link with London will be axed later this year after the operator of the service announced the results of a consultation.

LNER outlined the changes in January - proposing the axing of the 5.34am direct service between Stirling and London Kings Cross, as well as the 3pm London-Stirling train in the opposite direction.

The move was mooted due to “substantially fewer numbers” on board the service, as well as changing travel patterns from business to leisure.

It was put out for consultation with passengers, with the survey running until March 18 - with LNER then considering the responses before making their final call.

The move will come as a blow for the city’s travel links and follows positive news that operator Grand Union Trains have been given the thumbs up to run their own service between Stirling and London Euston on the West Coast main line.

That service is hoped to be up and running from summer 2025 - with the goal of running three trains a day on the line.

In a document seen by the Observer, LNER confirmed the changes to its schedule from December, including the removal of the direct trains between Stirling and the UK capital.

The consultation received a total of 265 responses, with 26 of these related to the Stirling service.

All of the responses were recorded as objections for reasons including the unreliability of other operators; increased journey times; and removing the possibility of day trips between the two destinations via LNER services.

In its conclusions, the report says: “LNER services to Glasgow and Stirling extensions are not well utilised, and there remains alternative rail options for those wishing to travel to/from London.

“The removals are aimed to create a more efficient and reliable railway, and therefore aim to support modal shift towards long distance rail.

“The removal of LNER Glasgow and Stirling services will not have a significant impact to customers who are travelling to the East Coast from Glasgow/Motherwell given the frequency of available connections.

“Stirling will still retain direct connectivity to the East Coast main line achieved by both Stirling and Falkirk Grahamston being served by LNER’s daily Inverness service, which currently calls at Stirling at 10.34 southbound and 17.19 northbound; and at Falkirk Grahamston at 10.48 southbound and 17.03 northbound.”

The report adds:“There will be no job losses as a result of these proposals.”

  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next

Latest stories

  • Full list of every London Underground station and line closed this weekend

    Check the London Underground, Overground and Elizabeth Line services for the upcoming weekend and don't be caught out by any changes.

  • Train warning issued for those travelling from Oxford to London this weekend

    Chiltern Railways has issued a warning to those travelling by train from Oxford to London this weekend.

  • New £20 million bus station officially opened as Mayor hails 'great day for Halifax'

    A TOWN’S new state-of-the-art £20 million bus station is now in full use, with West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin snipping the ribbon to send the new building on its journey.

  • 'Better rail links essential' York and North Yorkshire mayor tells train bosses

    The Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, David Skaith, has told rail chiefs it is essential residents are connected by rail to opportunities in the region and beyond.

  • Ticket holders’ Olympics plans ruined as Eurostar cancels trains

    Ticket holders hoping to travel from the UK to the Olympic Games in Paris have had their plans ruined after Eurostar was forced to cancel services following arson attacks on the French railway network.

  • New railway bridge to open over busy line in Cardiff

    It will replace an existing crossing which people felt was unsafe

  • 'Significant milestone' reached on major works on Glasgow railway line

    A 'significant milestone' on the project to enhance a Glasgow railway line has been reached.

  • 'Sabotage' on French rail network before Olympics: What we know

    Arson attacks scrambled France's high-speed rail network for tens of thousands of passengers on Friday, after what officials called premeditated acts of "sabotage" just hours before the Paris Olympics opened.Friday's attacks were launched as the French capital was under heavy security ahead of the Games opening ceremony, with 300,000 spectators and an audience of VIPs expected at the event.- What was targeted?Fires that affected France's Atlantic, northern and eastern lines led to cancellations and delays at a time of particularly heavy traffic for summer holiday travel."Early this morning, coordinated and prepared acts of sabotage were perpetrated against installations of SNCF," the national rail operator, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said.SNCF chief executive Jean-Pierre Farandou said the attackers had started fires in "conduits carrying multiple (fibre-optic) cables" that relay "safety information for drivers" or control the motors for points that change rails.- Who is affected?Around 800,000 passengers are expected to be affected over the weekend as the damage is heavy and labour-intensive to repair.France's rail network was expected to be busy this weekend, not only due to the Olympics but also as people return from or leave for their summer holidays."There are huge and serious consequences for the rail network," added Attal.Passenger services chief Christophe Fanichet said there were delays of 90 minutes to two hours on services between Paris and France's north and east."We ask people please not to come to the station, because if you haven't heard from us, your train won't be running," Fanichet told reporters.One major branch of the network, the line to France's southeast, was spared.High-speed rail operator Eurostar said around one in four services across its network linking France, the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany would be cancelled, including trains from Paris to London.Others would be slower as they will run on regular lines not designed for high-speed trains.- What happens now?Farandou of SNCF said: "There's a huge number of bundled cables. We have to repair them one by one, it's a manual operation" requiring "hundreds of workers".But by early afternoon Friday, Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete said that some departures were going ahead, with "one in three" trains operating from Paris's Montparnasse station, terminus of the line towards Bordeaux and the Atlantic coast.He too urged people not to come to the station without confirmation of their trip.At Montparnasse, passengers were waiting for information, with display boards showing delays of more than two hours."Normal traffic is expected to resume on Monday, July 29," read one of the signs in the departure hall.Paris's RATP transport network was also operating under "increased vigilance" following the railway attacks, its chief executive Jean Castex said as he visited a control station. - Who are the culprits?SNCF CEO Farandou said railway workers doing night maintenance in central France had spotted unauthorised people, who fled when the workers called in police.France's intelligence services were scrambling to determine the perpetrators of the sabotage, a security source told AFP. The arson method used resembled past attacks by extreme-left actors, the source added.In September, arson attacks on conduits holding railway cables caused travel chaos in northern Germany, with a claim of responsibility posted to an extreme-left website.- What legal action is being taken?Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said in a statement her office had opened a probe into a suspected bid to undermine "fundamental national interests".The investigation will also look at suspected damage inflicted by an organised gang and attacks on an automated data processing system.Her statement described the acts of sabotage as "deliberate damage caused to sites of SNCF on the night of July 25-26, 2024."burs-tgb-sjw/jj

  • Cheap pill almost everyone takes could cause heart attack and stroke

    Some people are even prescribed the drugs for simple conditions, despite the risk of harm

  • Drivers warned that most car owners will be hammered with new £410 tax from next April

    New rules will see many drivers forced to pay additional tax on their vehicle from next year. The so-called 'luxury' car tax would see motorists forking out £410 each year

  • Rapist tried to spike woman's drink for a second time - she 'took matters into her own hands'

    Her quick thinking led to a "strange turn of events", a court heard

  • Prince Andrew's six-word comment to photographer after Newsnight interview

    The photographer who was present when Emily Maitlis interviewed Prince Andrew for BBC's Newsnight has recalled the six words the Royal said to him when the interview wrapped up

  • Prince William’s feelings towards Harry revealed in unseen letters from Princess Diana

    Collection includes insights into Diana’s royal life

  • Antiques Roadshow guest 'needs bodyguard' after surprise valuation

    Antiques Roadshow expert Alastair Dickenson was left impressed after being shown a decorative silver box

  • Police update on man arrested after horror crash that left six people dead

    A man has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving after six people died in a horror crash.

  • DWP says it owes thousands of people almost £8,000 each

    There are some key dates to check as the service says three main groups of people have been identified

  • Harris Taunts Trump After He Backs Out of Debates

    “What happened to ‘any time, any place’?”

  • Bargain Hunt expert forced to eat his words as couple make huge profit

    BBC Bargain Hunt expert Charlie Ross was left eating his words after a couple made an unexpected profit on the popular show, leading to a 'Golden Gavel' win

  • Former Man Utd and Cardiff City player now working on a building site after walking away

    The Premier League winner once commanded a transfer fee of £35 million

  • Woman wakes up hours before life support was to be switched off

    Emma's family had been told the 32-year-old was brain dead