First Class train travel from Newcastle to Edinburgh
Thinking about taking the train from Newcastle to Scotland in style? Whether you're travelling for business or leisure, First Class train travel from Newcastle to Edinburgh is certainly worth it. With a fastest journey time of 1h 22m, you'll have plenty of time to enjoy all the perks that come with First Class train travel.
In this guide to travelling from Newcastle to Edinburgh in First Class, we'll show you what to expect from start to finish, including the First Class lounge, what to expect onboard and how to buy cheap First Class train tickets with us.
Which train companies offer First Class travel from Newcastle to Edinburgh?
There are three train companies in the UK that offer direct First-Class train travel from Newcastle to Edinburgh. All services depart from Newcastle station and arrive into Edinburgh Waverley station and take around the same amount of time.
London North Eastern Railway
Lounge access | 2 trains per hour | 1h 48m avg journey time | Direct
| First Class lounge | |
| Free Food and drink | |
| Free WiFi |
TransPennine Express
1 train every 4 hours | 1h 48m avg journey time | Direct
| First Class lounge | |
| Free Food and drink | On certain services |
| Free WiFi |
Find out more about travelling First Class with TranPennine Express
CrossCountry
1 train every 2 hours | 1h 48m avg journey time | Direct
| First Class lounge | |
| Free Food and drink | On certain services |
| Free WiFi |
Find out more about travelling First Class with CrossCountry
The LNER First Class experience
Thinking of travelling First Class from Newcastle to Edinburgh with LNER? Here's a taste of what you can expect from before you even board to the train to arriving into Edinburgh Waverley just 1h 22m later on the fastest Azuma services.
Before you travel: LNER's First Class lounge
It's always worth a visit to a First Class lounge when it's available, take the chance to sit in extra comfortable seating and graze on free drinks and snacks before your journey from Newcastle.
Not sure where the lounge is inside Newcastle station? You'll find the entrance at the south end of Platform 3.
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 06:15-21:00, Sat 06:15 -17:00, Sun 10:00 -21:00
Entry time: 1h before departure Fri-Sun 15:00-19:00. 2 hrs before all other times
Valid ticket types: First Class Season tickets, Anytime tickets (more than £10), LNER lounge pass, Weekend First
What’s inside?
- Plenty of comfortable modern seating. No need to run for that free bench space in the main concourse.
- Meeting rooms. Perfect for work on the go.
- Complimentary hot and cold drinks and light snacks. Your first taste of free food during your journey.
- TVs showing the latest news. So you can keep up with the latest goings-on.
- Free WiFi. Browse away!
- Toilets. No need to queue.
On the train: What to expect from LNER First Class
Where are they on the train?
It can vary depending on the length of the train, but you'll usually find the First Class coaches are either D, E, K, L, or M. They'll also be labelled as First Class by the door.
Image source: LNER
How are the seats arranged?
Similar to travelling in Standard Class, you can either sit at a table of 4 or at 2 seats next to each other. First Class has the additional option of sitting at a single seat with its own table - perfect for solo travellers who want their own space.
Image source: LNER
What extra benefits do First Class carriages offer over Standard Class?
Not only do you have the option to sit by yourself, but the seats are also comfier and offer extra leg and elbow room than Standard Class seats. Oh, and they recline! Perfect for taking a little nap along the way. Other benefits of travelling on First Class on LNER include:
- Complimentary morning papers
- Free WiFi (LNER's fastest ever)
- Complimentary food and drink (more on this below)
- Access to power sockets and USB chargers at every seat
Image source: LNER
You'll also find all the other usual amenities in the First Class coaches, like luggage racks and overhead shelves to store your belongings, toilets and spaces to store bicycles (although you may have to walk through a small section of Standard Class to reach the bike storage spots).
What's the complimentary food and drink like?
LNER have recently reintroduced their at-seat trolley service, meaning you can sit back, relax and let the free food and drink come to you. A reduced menu is in operation at the moment, but you can get an idea of what to expect from our sample menu below. Menus can change depending on the time of day and service you're travelling on.
Sample menu only. Actual menu available on the train
Breakfast (served until 10:00): Bacon sandwich, Quorn and cheese muffin, Pastries
The rest of the day (served 10:00–22:00): Ayrshire ham and mustard sandwich, Veggie sandwich
Snacks: Crisps, biscuits, and gluten-free sweet treats
Drinks: Hot drinks, fizzy drinks, still and sparkling water
Image source: LNER
Find out more in our LNER First Class guide.
Book First Class tickets from Newcastle to Edinburgh with LNER
Ready to book and enjoy the First Class experience? Start a search in our Journey Planner today!
The TransPennine Express First Class experience
Thinking of travelling First Class from Newcastle to Edinburgh with TransPennine Express? Here's a taste of what you can expect from before you even board to the train to arriving into Edinburgh Waverley.
Before you travel: Partial access to LNER's First Class lounge
TransPennine Express don't have their own First Class lounge at Newcastle station. Although if some of your journey is on an LNER train, or your ticket isn't valid only for travel on TransPennine Express, you'll be able to access LNER's lounge.
If you're not able to access the First Class lounge before your trip, Newcastle station still has plenty of facilities including:
- Coffee shops like Cafe Nero and Costa
- Sainsburys
- Boots
- WH Smith
- Paperchase
- Toilets
On the train: What to expect from TransPennine Express First Class
Where are they on the train?
Depending on the type or length of train you’re travelling on, you’ll find the First Class sections are either in E, C or G. You'll see a First Class label by the door.
Be aware that when the train is very busy and all First Class ticket holders have been seated, the onboard staff may decide to offer First Class seating to customers with Standard Tickets, although this doesn't happen all the time.
How are the seats arranged?
You can either sit at a table of 4 or 2 seats next to each other - the same as Standard Class - however, First Class also comes with the extra option of single seats with their own table, perfect if you're travelling alone and like your own space. There aren't usually many First Class seats on TransPennine Express trains, so it feels much more spacious. You'll also find a few Priority Seats in First Class for which older passengers or those with additional needs should be offered first.
What extra benefits do First Class carriages offer over Standard Class?
Extra benefits of First Class carriages on TransPennine trains include:
- Extra leg and elbow room compared to Standard seats
- Complimentary food and drink on certain services
What's the complimentary food and drink like?
Due to Covid restrictions, TransPennine Express are not currently operating an onboard catering service.
TransPennine Express do offer free food and drinks, but only on services where refreshments are provided. If there's a trolley service operating, then your First Class ticket allows for free hot/cold drinks, sandwiches, sweet and savoury snacks along the way.
Find out more in our guide to TransPennine Express First Class travel.
Book First Class tickets from Newcastle to Edinburgh with TransPennine Express
Ready to book and enjoy the First Class experience? Start a search in our Journey Planner today!
The CrossCountry First Class experience
Thinking of travelling First Class from Newcastle to Edinburgh with CrossCountry? Here's a taste of what you can expect from before you even board to the train to arriving into Edinburgh Waverley.
Before you travel: Partial access to LNER's First Class lounge
CrossCountry don't have their own First Class lounge at Newcastle station. Although if some of your journey is on an LNER train, or your ticket isn't valid only for travel on CrossCountry, you'll be able to access LNER's lounge.
If you're not able to access the First Class lounge before your trip, Newcastle station still has plenty of facilities including:
- Coffee shops like Cafe Nero and Costa
- Sainsburys
- Boots
- WH Smith
- Paperchase
- Toilets
On the train: What to expect from CrossCountry First Class
Where are they on the train?
Depending on the type or length of train you’re travelling on, you’ll find the First Class sections are either in A or B. You'll see a First Class label by the door.
How are the seats arranged?
You can either sit at a table of 4 or 2 seats next to each other - the same as Standard Class - however, First Class also comes with the extra option of single seats with their own table, perfect if you're travelling alone and like your own space.
What extra benefits do First Class carriages offer over Standard Class?
Extra benefits of First Class carriages on TransPennine trains include:
- Larger reclining seats than Standard
- Extra table space
- Free food and drink on most services
What's the complimentary food and drink like?
CrossCountry have recently reintroduced their First Class food and drinks service, meaning you can sit back, relax and let the free food and drink come to you. A smaller than usual menu is in operation at the moment, but you can get an idea of what to expect from our sample menu below. Menus can change depending on the time of day and service you're travelling on.
Sample menu only. Actual menu available on the train
Breakfast: Yoghurt, porridge and pastries
Sandwiches (Complimentary for journeys over 50 minutes): Various
Snacks: Crisps, muffins, cakes and biscuits
Drinks: Coffee, tea, hot chocolate, fizzy drinks, orange juice and still or sparkling water. Alcoholic beverages are not complimentary.
Find out more in our CrossCountry First Class guide.
Book First Class tickets from Newcastle to Edinburgh with CrossCountry
Ready to book and enjoy the First Class experience with CrossCountry? Start a search in our Journey Planner today!
Arriving at Edinburgh Waverley
Although TransPennine Express and CrossCountry don’t have a First Class lounge at Edinburgh, LNER do. If you’ve travelled with LNER and fancy a pit stop before you head into the city, you can spend up to one hour there after you arrive into Edinburgh Waverley. It was last refurbished in 2016 and contains similar amenities as the First Class lounge in Newcastle.
The station is centrally located between Edinburgh's old and new towns, so you’re perfectly placed to start exploring straight away. And since you’ve travelled First Class, you’ll be relaxed and ready to enjoy your trip.
How to buy cheap First Class train tickets from Newcastle to Edinburgh
There are a number of ways you can get cheap First Class train tickets from Newcastle to Edinburgh, without paying over the odds. Our top tips for saving money on First Class train tickets are:
Travel Off-Peak
Tickets for travel during Off-Peak hours (anytime outside of Monday – Friday rush hours) are normally cheaper, plus the trains are usually quieter too.
Book in advance
LNER and Avanti West Coast release Advance tickets up to 12 weeks before the departure date, usually at their cheapest price. So, if you can, planning ahead is a great way to save.
Use a Railcard
There are several Railcards in UK you can use to save up to 1/3 on First Class train tickets. Check out which one you might be eligible for and buy online on our Railcards page.
Search for split tickets
‘Splitting’ your journey into several sections and buying tickets for each part can sometimes be cheaper than buying a single ticket on longer journeys. Our ticket-splitting app feature, SplitSave, does the hard part for you.
So, what are you waiting for?
Start a search for First Class train tickets from Newcastle to Edinburgh in our Journey Planner at the top of the page – you won’t regret it!
Want to find out more about First Class train travel?
Newcastle to Edinburgh isn't the only First Class train travel guide we've got for you. Why not check out some of the other popular routes and train companies in the UK and Europe offering amazing First Class train travel.