Launch of new high-speed Azuma trains on LNER services between Inverness and London on the Highland Mainline has been marked with special ceremony
NEW trains on the Highlands' direct rail route with London will bring new benefits to not only individual travellers, but the north economy as a whole.
The predictions were made as LNER (London North Eastern Railway) marked the first journey of its new Azuma train service on its Highland Chieftain route between Inverness and London King’s Cross.
To the accompaniment of pipes, drummers and fire jugglers, VIP guests including Inverness Provost Helen Carmichael joined regular passengers for the the first public trip south on one of the 65 new Azuma trains which will replace the existing LNER fleet by June 2020.
LNER managing director David Horne, who was in Inverness to launch the new look Highland Chieftain service, said the new trains would transform travel between the Highlands and London for the more than 50,000 travellers who use the service each year and would open up new economic opportunities.
"They are, of course, brand new trains replacing the trains that have been servicing the route since 1984," he said.
"The Azuma will be much smoother to travel on and have more seats. That's very important because the number of passengers travelling on this route has more than doubled in the last 20 years. Customers will find there is more space on board as well. We've had great feedback from customers who have travelled on trains on our other services, so it is a real transformation in the travel experience."
Mr Horne believes that some of the new changes will be particularly appreciated by passengers with access issues.
"The trains are built with lots of accessibility features, and we have been genuinely delighted by the reception we have been getting from customers up and down the route, so it's great to be here at last in Inverness," he said.
With environmental concerns and climate change fears playing an increasingly important part in public perception, Mr Horne added that that the new trains offer an alternative to flying that is less damaging to the environment than before
"One of the things these trains offer is hybrid technology," Mr Horne explained.
"They are able to switch between diesel and electric, so this morning when we get to Dunblane, we will switch to electric, so 75 per cent of the journey will be on electric, helping us significantly lower our carbon emissions."
As well as being roomier, offering seven centimetres more legroom in standard class and additional luggage space, the new trains also have a larger capacity, allowing the service to offer cheaper journeys and compete with low cost airlines.
Other new features include plug sockets and window blinds at every seat, and enhanced wi-fi with free connectivity.
However, although Mr Horne said that his own favourite aspect of the new train was its noticeably quicker acceleration, LNER has no immediate plans to introduce faster service times on the Inverness to King's Cross route.
"There will be a timetable change at the end of 2021, but journey time on this route is not as important as the fact we provide a direct service between Inverness, London and the carious other places on the route such as York and Newcastle," he said.
Before beginning her southbound journey, Provost Carmichael said it was an important day for Inverness and for the Highlands, which had waited quite a long time for "this wonderful train" to arrive in Inverness. With tourism very important to the area and increasing year on year, she welcomed the enhanced connectivity the new train would bring between London and the Highlands.
Willie Cameron, director of food and hospital group Cobbs, believes the new service will make a tremendous difference to the Highland economy.
"International tourists, especially from the Far East, can fly into London and come straight up to the Highlands in no time at all, where they can engage with local transporters. This is going to be tremendous for us," he said.
