Cambridge to Edinburgh train with London North Eastern Railway

Trains from Cambridge to Edinburgh

Trains from Cambridge to Edinburgh leave regularly throughout the day, and generally there is not a great difference between their total travel times. The average duration is about 5h 15min. There are currently no direct trains to Edinburgh from Cambridge, and they all require at least one or two changes, normally at Ely or Peterborough. There are no night trains at the moment, with the last train leaving at 18:00 and the first train leaving early morning, at about 06:00. The trains leave regularly through the day, usually with about 30-40min between each departure. There are two train stations that they depart from: Cambridge railway station and Cambridge North. They both run to Edinburgh Waverley.

Cambridge to Edinburgh Train Time: Daily Departures

There are plenty of trains to choose from when travelling from Cambridge to Edinburgh. The trains depart throughout the day, with the first one usually leaving just before 06:00 from Cambridge station. It is operated, like all of the trains on this route, by London North Eastern Railway. The last train leaves at about 18:00 and generally arrives just after 23:00, as it takes over 5 hours and requires a couple of changes, at Ely and Peterborough. The trains depart from both Cambridge and Cambridge North, and they all arrive at Edinburgh Waverley station.

How long is the journey by train from Cambridge to Edinburgh?

The train from Cambridge to Edinburgh is quite long, and it will give you time to check out our online magazine. The fastest train from Cambridge to Edinburgh usually takes just under 5 hours, and it requires one change. It is operated by London North Eastern Railway (LNER ). The slowest train available on this route generally takes just short of 6 hours in total and requires two changes, in Ely and Peterborough. It is also run by LNER. On average, the train from Cambridge to Edinburgh will take you about 5h 20min, with very little difference between the fastest and the slowest trains.

Trains from Cambridge to Edinburgh: river and the University of Cambridge. Source: Shutterstock

What are the departure and arrival stations for trains from Cambridge to Edinburgh?

Departure train station: There are two departure stations in Cambridge to choose from when planning your journey from Cambridge to Edinburgh. Cambridge North station is operated by Greater Anglia, and it has a waiting room and toilets. It also has baby-changing facilities, free WiFi and plenty of features to make it more accessible for passengers with disabilities or reduced mobility. It has induction loops, ramps for boarding the trains and the station is step free. Cambridge Central railway station has similar facilities. It has cashpoints, where you can withdraw cash, and a shop, where you can buy food and drinks, plus a coffee shop, waiting rooms, toilets and baby-changing facilities. There’s ramps and wheelchairs available, to help with boarding trains, and there are lifts to help cross the land bridge as well. Cambridge station is within a roughly 15min walk from the city centre, and there are plenty of taxis available.

Arrival train station:Edinburgh Waverley station is the main station in Edinburgh city, and it is located within a roughly 5min walk from Princes Street. It has ticket machines and ticket offices, and there are toilets with showers installed, should you wish to freshen up after your journey. There is free WiFi, and there are car hire kiosks, baby-changing facilities and water fountains located throughout the station. You can request wheelchairs for use within the station, and there are ramps throughout and to help you board the trains. Induction loops can be provided from the assistance desks, and there are easy-access toilets available for passengers with reduced mobility or disabilities.

Which train companies travel from Cambridge to Edinburgh?

There is currently only one company that provides trains from Cambridge to Edinburgh, and it is London North Eastern Railways, or LNER when abbreviated. LNER provides frequent, regular trains every day of the week, and although there are no direct trains, they tend to take 5-6h to complete the journey.

Night trains Cambridge

At the moment, there are no night trains offered on the Cambridge to Edinburgh line. The last train that departs is generally at 18:00 and usually takes over 5h to arrive, meaning that you should get to Edinburgh just after 23:00. This train departs Cambridge station, requires one or two changes and is operated by LNER. Another option is to take the early-morning train, departing about 5min before 06:00 and arriving in roughly 5h.

London North Eastern Railway trains from Cambridge to Edinburgh

LNER trains depart throughout the day, and they tend to leave every 30-40min during the day, with the first train leaving at about 06:00 and the last one departing around 18:00. The average travel time is about 5h 15min, and the difference between the fastest train (about 5 hours) and the slowest train (about 6 hours) is not that big. There are no direct trains on this route from Cambridge to Edinburgh, and they require either one or two stops, usually at Ely or Peterborough.

Trains from Cambridge to Edinburgh: Sustainability travel

Travelling by train has been proven to be a more sustainable method of public transport, especially when compared to using vehicles such as cars or buses. By reducing traffic, not only do trains reduce emissions, but they have also shown to cause less sound pollution and be more efficient with space. LNER is dedicated to reducing emissions further and providing a greener alternative for public transport.

Train Cambridge to Edinburgh: Services on Board

LNER trains offer both standard and first-class tickets for their trains. There are food-&-drinks trolleys as well as free WiFi, to keep you entertained during the long journey. You can reserve a space for your bike when purchasing your ticket in advance, and there is not a lot of storage space on board the trains, so make sure you stick to the company’s luggage policies. You may bring three items on board, including a large suitcase plus a smaller carry-on bag and a hand bag. Pets are allowed on board; you can bring up to two domestic pets with you. The Azuma trains that operate under LNER offer faster, more comfortable travel as well, so keep an eye out for them.

How to find cheap train tickets from Cambridge to Edinburgh

When trying to find cheap train tickets from Cambridge to Edinburgh, we recommend you try to reserve your tickets in advance, as they tend to be cheaper than buying your tickets on the day. Another option is to try and be flexible with your departure times, both the time of day and the day of the week, as this will give you a greater chance of finding good deals. Finally, if you can find trains that require more changes and take a little longer, then these are a good option, as they tend to be cheaper than the more direct, faster options.

Trains from Cambridge to Edinburgh: cityscape of Edinburgh at night. Source: Shutterstock

To Edinburgh by train—travel tips

Edinburgh is a wonderful city that blends modernism with history and offers plenty of ways to keep yourself entertained. If you would like to go for a walk and explore the historical city, then we recommend taking a stroll around Arthur’s Seat, which is located beside Holyrood, Scotland’s parliament building. Holyrood is at the base of the Royal Mile, a hill that runs up through the old town and culminates at Edinburgh Castle, one of the famous landmarks in the city. If you would prefer to go shopping, then you will find that Princes Street is close by and offers lots of shops and places to eat or drink, as well as the Botanical Gardens, which offer a great view of the castle. For sports fans, you can find the Edinburgh rugby team at Murrayfield, also where the national team play. There are also two top-tier football teams in the city, Hearts and Hibernian, so there is plenty to keep the sports fan entertained.

• National Museum Scotland
• Scott Monument
• Calton Hill and the National Monument
• Lauriston Castle and Gardens
• The Royal Mile