Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Timetable Changes: Berwick-upon-Tweed

Thursday 11 June 2026 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • John Lamont conducted a survey showing over 70% of residents in the Borders area are now less likely to use Berwick-upon-Tweed station due to new timetable changes.
  • The Minister acknowledged the impact of reduced direct services from Berwick-upon-Tweed to London, expressing understanding for the concerns raised by John Lamont.
  • The new timetable aims to improve overall connectivity at Berwick, offering more frequent regional services and better connections to Newcastle, with CrossCountry providing an hourly service.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 John Lamont Con Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
Transport
Context

A survey in the Borders showed that over 70% of residents are now less likely to use Berwick-upon-Tweed station due to new timetable changes, which include fewer direct services to London and many passengers having to change trains.

Question

In a survey I conducted in the Borders about Network Rail's new timetable changes, more than 70% of residents said they were now less likely to use Berwick-upon-Tweed station as a result. The timetable changes mean fewer direct services to London, with many passengers having to change trains. This is having a significant impact on elderly train users and disabled train users. Does the Minister agree that, if his plan for Great British Railways is to be a success, frequent and reliable services from Berwick-upon-Tweed station to London need to be reinstated?

Answer from Keir Mather

I thank the hon. Member for championing the needs of both elderly residents and people with disabilities, but also everybody who uses those direct services from Berwick-upon-Tweed station to London. I know that a small number of direct services have been cut, and I appreciate the fact that he has been doing community outreach on this important point. I suggest that he shares the results with LNER and Network Rail, which can use his findings to inform future planning, but I am very happy to work with him further on this important issue.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not explicitly agree or commit to reinstating frequent and reliable services from Berwick-upon-Tweed station to London.

How: Working With Partners

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q2 John Lamont Con Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
Transport
Context

The new timetable improves capacity and journey times along the east coast main line, delivering over 60,000 additional weekly seats. However, there are concerns about connectivity at Berwick-upon-Tweed station.

Question

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of timetable changes on passengers using Berwick-upon-Tweed station.

Answer from Keir Mather

The new timetable improves capacity and journey times along the east coast main line, delivering over 60,000 additional weekly seats. Overall connectivity at Berwick has been strengthened, with more frequent regional services and better connections to Newcastle. CrossCountry now provides an hourly service, and TransPennine Express has increased the number of services between Newcastle and Edinburgh from five to eight a day in each direction, with further improvements planned.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)