How to travel by train from Glasgow to Leeds

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Glasgow to Leeds by train

Rail journeys from Glasgow to Leeds were impacted in response to the pandemic.
And what had been the usual timetable has still to be restored, so only one direct train per day is available.
The alternative journey options with only one connection at Carlisle or Lancaster between trains tend to be both cheaper and faster than this train; And that route is more scenic too!

Routes you can take to go from Glasgow to Leeds

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 Glasgow

Route Information

Station Guides

The main entrance to Glasgow Central station on Gordon Street

Glasgow Central Rail Station Guide

Looking across Leeds station from platform 8 - platform 17

Leeds City Rail Station Guide

Travel Time (approx)

4hr 20min

Frequency

Daily

Travel Info

1 x train per day

Travel Information

Final Destination: Plymouth

This train also calls at:* York

This train is usually scheduled to depart at around 07:45 on Monday to Saturday; and at 10:55 on Sunday.

This is a direct journey

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

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; the sea views on this journey are on the left.
If you move to a different seat(s) it won't affect the validity of your ticket.

If your ticket(s) don't include reserved seats, then try to choose seats on the left which face the direction of travel.

Between Motherwell and Carstairs

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

By the coast to the south of Dunbar

Looking east from the Royal Border Bridge on a greyer day

Heading south from Berwick

Passing by the town of Alnmouth

Arriving in Newcastle

Looking down on the River Tyne as the train departs Newcastle

The stunning view over the city of Durham

For much of the train ride between Glasgow and Leeds the railway lives up to its name of the 'The East Coast Mainline'.

This train journey has four distinct phases:

(1) Between Motherwell and Edinburgh much of the journey is through rolling Scottish farm land.

(2) Then between Edinburgh and Alnmouth the railway is often 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 (though they are tricky to photograph).

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.

(3) 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.

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.

(4) The train will attain the highest speeds of the journey as it races across the flat landscape between Darlington and York and then on to the outskirts of Leeds

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 of the travel date

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) A fee will be payable if you want to transfer your ticket(s) to a different departure ahead of your travel date.
(3) This type of ticket can't be refunded if you subsequently change your travel plans, or miss the train in circumstances not to do with the train 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 buy 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 the National Rail website

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