Liverpool to Edinburgh train with TransPennine Express

Trains from Liverpool to Edinburgh

Train to Edinburgh from Liverpool are very frequent, with journeys departing on a regular daily basis. There are multiple trains available from Liverpool to Edinburgh every day of the week, with several trains in the morning, the afternoon, and the evening. The trains on average take around 3 to 4h, depending on the number of changes and the time of the day.

Liverpool to Edinburgh train time: Daily Departures

There are many trains departing from Liverpool to Edinburgh, with an average of nine in the morning, eight in the afternoon, and around four trains in the evening. The first train is as early as around 8:12 a.m. and the last train runs at around 10:17 p.m. Monday to Friday. On the weekend, the trains still run frequently, however it has slightly different times and frequency. On Saturday the first train is the same as weekdays, and the last train is at around 11:38 p.m., and on Sunday there are a few fewer, with the first train running at around 10:12 a.m. and the last train running at around 9:08 p.m.

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

When travelling from Liverpool to Edinburgh by train, your journey time will depend on a few factors, if you choose a line with one or more stopovers, and the time of day your journey departs. Unfortunately, there are no direct lines to Edinburgh from Liverpool by train, however, there are some very straightforward journeys with one change. These trains take an average of 3h 33min to 4h 2min in the morning and afternoon. The changes can occur in three places, Preston, Wigan North Western, and Lockerbie. In the evening there is a weekly night train, that takes around 10h 59min with a long change in Newcastle.

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

Departure train station: Liverpool Lime Street Station is the main train station for travel between Liverpool and Edinburgh, it is also the main station of Liverpool and a terminus station. It’s centrally located in the heart of the Liverpool city centre and can be accessed by car, taxi, bicycle, bus and train. To access the station via bus, you can take Bus Number 500 which services Liverpool John Lennon Airport. At the station, you can find facilities such as ticket machines, cash points, toilets, baby change rooms, payphones, Wi-Fi, trolleys, a water fountain, photo booths, waiting areas, cafes, a news agency, a car park and an accessible car park, step-free access, and induction loops.

Arrival train station: Edinburgh Waverley Station is also locally known as Waverley Station and is the main station of Edinburgh. Physically it’s the largest train station in the United Kingdom outside of London, and is the second busiest train station in Scotland, after Glasgow. It’s centrally located in the heart of Edinburgh, at the junction of Old Town and New Town. It can be easily accessed by car, taxi, bicycle, train, and bus. Buses that leave from Waverley Station are tour buses and airport buses. Local buses also pass through. At the station, you can find a travel centre, ticket machines, information booths and officers, toilets, baby changing facilities, showers, cash points, payphones, car hire desks, lost property, trolleys, photo booths, Wi-Fi, water fountains, food and drink shops, and car parks. The station has accessibility features such as induction loops, and visual aids.

Edinburgh City Bus. Source: Shutterstock

Which train companies travel from Liverpool to Edinburgh?

When travelling from Liverpool to Edinburgh by train, two companies offer regular routes between the two cities, First Transpennine Express, and Avanti West Coast. First Transpennine Express offers frequent daily trains at all hours of the day. Avanti West Coast also provides daily trains throughout the morning, afternoon, and evening. The journey times for both companies are similar in length as they use the same routes and stopovers.

First Transpennine Express trains from Liverpool to Edinburgh

Avanti West Coast trains from Liverpool to Edinburgh

Avanti West Coach trains provide fast train journeys between Liverpool and Edinburgh daily. These trains have an average of two to three journeys in the morning, two to three in the afternoon, and around two in the evening. This journey has one stopover or more, depending on what you choose, and take an average of 3h 33min to 3h 52min, with an exception of a late slow train in the evening which takes around 4h 56min. The length of the journey for day trips depends on how long the change is between stopovers.

Train from Liverpool to Edinburgh: Services on Board

Journeys with First Transpennine Express offer two classes, Standard and First Class, and two fare types, Advance Single, which is valid for any train over two days, beginning on the date of your journey. There are both mobile and standard physical tickets to choose from. Journeys with this company offer accessible toilets and booked assisted travel options. You can bring your luggage on this journey with no restrictions, you can book a bike space online, and up to two pets per passenger are welcome.

Trains with Avanti West Coach offer the same two types of classes and fares for this journey. There is a choice between Standard and First Class, and the tickets are Advance Single which cannot be refunded, and Anytime Single which is valid for any train for two days from the date of your ticket to 4:29 a.m. on the last morning. Avanti West Coach offers seat selection with this trip, mobile and physical tickets, you can bring luggage that doesn’t exceed 30 x 70 x 90cm, there is assisted travel for those with reduced mobility, and you are welcome to bring your bicycle and your pet for a small charge.

How to find cheap train tickets from Liverpool to Edinburgh?

When looking for cheap train tickets, there are a few different ways to find economical fares from Liverpool to Edinburgh. A great way to save money on big-ticket prices is to plan and book your journey ahead of time. Quite often you can find tickets at a cheaper rate when looking ahead of time compared to tickets for a nearby date. Another good way to save on your journey is with a flexible schedule. This means chasing dates and times that provide a lower fare, such as weekdays, early in the morning, or late at night. Also, choosing a train with connections, or a slow train could provide some economic relief. Some other economic solutions include choosing a slower train or trains with connecting routes. These travel options provide alternatives for cheaper train travel.

Edinburgh Old Town. Source: Shutterstock

To Edinburgh by train—travel tips

Edinburgh is a vibrant city that always provides activities, events, and festivals. Because of the number of festivals held in Edinburgh every year and all year round, it is known as the festival city of the world. There are many types of festivals held there, both seasonal and special one-offs. These include festivals of performance, music, art, science, literature, comedy, jazz, storytelling, tattoos, and more. It’s also the UNESCO city for the city of Literature.

The festivals are often located in the New Town which is nearby the Old Town. In the Old Town, you can learn about Edinburgh’s rich and medieval history. Around the Royal Mile, you can access many landmarks such as the Mary Queen of Scots home Holyrood Palace, the Scotch Whisky Experience which offers a distillery tour. There is plenty of site seeing, and you can plan day trips to various areas such as iconic Harry Potter locations and more.