How to travel by train from Edinburgh to Exeter

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Edinburgh to Exeter by train

CrossCountry operates the only direct trains between Edinburgh and Exeter
Though they do take a somewhat indirect route as they travel along the East Coast via Newcastle.
However, when looking up this journey it's worth paying close attention to the connecting times between trains on the alternative indirect journey options.
The transfer time between trains, particularly at Birmingham New Street, can be less than 10 minutes, so making these connections cannot be guaranteed.

Connect in Exeter for other destinations in Devon including Barnstaple, Torquay and Teignmouth

Routes you can take to go from Edinburgh to Exeter

When travelling between most cities by train there is only one logical option, though on other journeys there is a choice between different trains or alternative routes. If different options are available you can use the info to decide which is best for you.

Choose one of the following options:

Looking for connections?

Journey guides for travel to Edinburgh

Route Information

Station Guides

Edinburgh Waverley Rail Station Guide

The front of Exter St Davids showcases the former GWR's flair for Art-Deco

Exeter St. Davids Rail Station Guide

Travel Time (approx)

7hr 34min - 7hr 47min

Frequency

Daily

Travel Info

10 x trains per day

Travel Information

Final Destination: Plymouth or Penzance

All trains also call at: Taunton and Tiverton Parkway

Trains usually depart from Edinburgh hourly, but due to the length of the journey the final departure of the day typically leaves Waverley station at 15:08

A mix of 125 and Voyager trains are used on this route, but there is no means of working out which of these trains will be used on the departure you will be travelling by.

This is a direct journey

You will be travelling on one of these trains...

A 125 train has arrived in Bristol on service between Plymouth and Edinburgh

CrossCountry 125 (UK) Train Guide

A 4 coach version of a CrossCountry Vogager train has arrived in Exeter...

CrossCountry Voyager (UK) Train Guide

Journey Features

Scenic - YesCoastal views

Good to Know

If when you board, you discover that your assigned seat(s) are on the right-hand side of the train, when facing the direction of travel, see if you can find available seats on the left of the train.
If you move to a different seat(s) it won't affect the validity of your ticket.

The sea views on this journey are on the left.
If your ticket(s) don't include reserved seats, then try to choose seats on the left, when facing the direction of travel.

Journey description:

The scenic highlights of this journey all occur within the first two hours, but it's a route with four distinct phases.

(1) Most of the journey between Edinburgh and Alnmouth is beside the coast

The sea views kick in before the train has even left Edinburgh behind; and they initially continue until south of Dunbar.

To the north of Berwick-upon-Tweed the train will travel across the clifftops as it crosses the border into England, these are the most dramatic coastal views on the journey.

Minutes after the train has passed through Berwick-upon-Tweed, the next highlight is the view from the majestic Royal Border Bridge.

Between there and Alnmouth there are views on the left over the dramatic Northumberland coast.

(2) Between Alnmouth and Darlington the railway snakes its way through the towns and cities of north-east England, and just before Newcastle station on the left there are views of the city's iconic Tyne Bridge.

The next highlight of the journey is the passage over the River Tyne, as the train departs from Newcastle Central station and heads over the King Edward VII Bridge.

Looking to the left, five other bridges that span the river can be seen; and there are also some great views of the Tyne Bridge as the train arrives in Newcastle station.

Around 15 mins after leaving Newcastle comes the final highlight of the journey, the stunning views over the city of Durham.

Over on the left before and after the station, the town's stunning castle and cathedral can be clearly seen in all their glory.

(3) The train will attain the highest speeds of the journey as it races across the flat landscape between Darlington and York.

(4) From York to Exeter the train will pass through a series of cities and large towns, which are separated by farm land; though north of Derby the railway travels through the foothills of the Peak District.

Sadly there is no guarantee of rainbows as the train leaves Edinburgh behind

Look out on the left for the view of the Bass Rock

By the coast to the south of Dunbar

Heading south from Berwick

Passing the village of Alnmouth

Arriving in Newcastle

Looking down on the River Tyne as the train departs Newcastle

The stunning view over the city of Durham

Travellling through Derbyshire

Heading west from Taunton

Looking left on the Royal Border Bridge just after departing Berwick

A glimpse of the ruins of the smugglers bothy at Lamberton Skerrs south of Berwick

Save with Split Ticketing on Trainline When it's possible to save money on rail journeys in Britain, by splitting tickets in one booking, Trainline now automatically offers this option - look out for for the blue symbol!

Save with Split Ticketing on Trainline When it's possible to save money on rail journeys in Britain, by splitting tickets in one booking, T...

The general guide to rail travel in Britain Discover what's good to know about riding the trains, taking popular journeys, using the major stations, booking tickets and travelling with rail passes.

Tickets

Book Early and Save: Yes

Online Bookings Usually Open: From 12 weeks ahead of travel

Booking Advance Tickets

If you want to travel at the cheapest possible price, look for the 'Advance tickets', though the three key things worth knowing about booking and using 'Advance' tickets are:
(1) Your ticket(s) will only be valid on the departure you selected when making a booking.
(2) But when travelling by CrossCountry trains, you can amend your ticket free of charge, regardless of when it was booked and when you will be travelling from 2 hours after purchase and up to 15 minutes before your train is due to depart, as long as the stations are the same.
(3) If the train you are booked on is delayed, you cannot then just hop on an alternative train operated by a different company.

CrossCountry atypically offers the ability to book Advance tickets until up to 15 minutes before departure.

The potential to save by splitting tickets on Trainline

It can be worth looking up this journey on Trainline.

It can be possible to save money by using split ticketing, with the booking process being no more complicated than booking conventional tickets - find out more.

Reservations

When you book an Advance ticket for this train journey, you will be automatically assigned a seat(s), but if you book the other types of ticket ahead, you can request a complimentary reservation
However, if you buy Off Peak or Anytime tickets just prior to boarding at the station, a seat reservation WON'T be automatically included with your booking.

Though CrossCountry now offers a service by which holders of Anytime and Off-Peak tickets can book reservations up to 10 minutes prior to departure time.

Travelling on Monday - Friday

Tickets are usually available 12 weeks ahead of the travel date.
However, when you look up a journey you may see dates further ahead on the calendar, but you'll be informed that tickets aren't yet available for those dates.

Travelling on Saturday-Sunday

Tickets are usually available 12 weeks ahead of the travel date, but maintenance work on the route is periodically undertaken at weekends and if it is scheduled on your travel date, it can affect when tickets will be released for sale.

If you're looking up a journey less than 12 weeks ahead and Advance tickets aren't available, it can be a good indication that works will be impacting on your travel date - a fairly common occurence on a journey as long as this.
It can be worth checking this on the National Rail website

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