Trains from Lincoln to London Kings Cross

I took the inaugural LNER Azuma service from Lincoln Central to London Kings Cross, departing at 11:18. The service called at Newark North Gate, Grantham, Peterborough, Stevenage and London Kings Cross.

It seems sensible to make clear from the outset that this was not an ordinary journey. As the first-ever Azuma service from Lincoln to London, the excitement at the station was palpable. Local business owners, LNER representatives and local residents turned out to welcome the Azuma into Lincoln Central – the service between Lincoln and London will open up unprecedented business and tourism connections between the capital and the East Midlands. As its first passengers, we were treated to Azuma swag and goodie bags full of locally sourced produce. While that won’t be available on ordinary journeys, this review will still be useful for anyone taking the Azuma from Lincoln to London.

Boarding the train

Azuma trains are the crown jewel of LNER’s fleet; modern, comfortable, and fast. When an Azuma pulls into the station, you’ll know about it. Built by Hitachi UK, they use the same technology as Japanese Bullet trains and are distinguishable by their silver and red exterior, and distinctive yellow nose. The train was made up of five carriages, significantly smaller than the usual 9-car Azuma trains.

I had a seat in First Class. The seats in the carriage were arranged in a 2+1 formation with tables of four lining one side. There’s plenty of legroom in First; I’m 6'1" (rounded up, of course!) and had about a foot of space between my knees and the back of the seat in front of me. The seats were made of fabric – not leather – which might bother the fussiest of First Class travellers, but I found them to be comfortable and spacious.

The service on board

The on-board service was excellent. No sooner had the train started moving than the LNER staff came around with complimentary tea and coffee, served in proper china. Our orders were then taken for lunch. I opted for the chicken casserole. The meal was tasty and served on proper crockery (there were no paper plates in sight!), but the portion wasn’t massive. It was a similar size to what you would expect on a long-haul flight. This was followed by a lemon posset for dessert. The staff were very friendly and always on hand to top up our refreshments – by this point, they were serving complimentary gin & tonics!

Interestingly, the First Class menu nods to local suppliers along Azuma’s routes, using ingredients from food suppliers in Newcastle, York, Hull and other Azuma destinations.

The journey itself

Despite travelling at speeds of 125mph, the Azuma is very quiet. This allowed me to work on my laptop undisturbed throughout the journey. The scenery outside was pretty, we passed through lots of Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire countryside. The fields are flat and stretch as far as the eye can see. Countryside gives way to flats and housing developments as the train enters Greater London - keep an eye out for Emirates Stadium just before arriving at Kings Cross station.

Freddie’s top tip:

If you’re booking in advance, consider travelling First Class. Admittedly it’s more expensive, but the complimentary meal and drinks really ensures you get bang for your buck. The service is second-to-none!

About Freddie

Freddie, a former Trainline employee, chose to share his experience of the journey between Lincoln and London Kings Cross.