Network Rail has announced plans to cope with growth on the East Coast Main Line and North East routes which will provide more seats on longer trains and more frequent trains.

The plan, (Route Utilisation Strategy (RUS) for the East Coast Main Line), attempts to address the problem of growing demands due to the continuing rise in passenger numbers. This could increase by 40% by 2016 on long distance services. The plan also seeks to make journeys more reliable. The RUS sets out a number of recommendations, including:

* Increasing the number of long distance trains from King’s Cross to eight trains per hour at peak times, and six services per hour off-peak allowing faster journeys to the principal destinations in Yorkshire, the North East and Scotland
   * Redevelopment at King’s Cross, coupled with the completion of the Thameslink upgrade will increase capacity once both schemes are completed
   * Power upgrades to facilitate extra and longer services
   * Boosting capacity between Peterborough and Doncaster by upgrading the parallel route through Lincoln
   * A number of other infrastructure schemes to improve capacity, performance and journey times for passengers and freight

Dyan Crowther, Network Rail’s Route Director, said: "This strategy sets out how we will make the necessary investment to improve reliability while meeting the demands of rising passenger numbers and freight growth over the coming years.” The RUS was drawn up in consultation with a number of rail industry stakeholders including train and freight operators, passenger groups, local authorities and regional investment authorities.

“The publication of this strategy is another milestone for this thriving line,” he added. “I thank those who made a valuable contribution in the formation of this strategy as part of the consultation process.”

The ECML is one of the busiest railway lines in Britain, providing a vital north-south link for long distance services from London to Scotland via Yorkshire and Newcastle, as well as serving important commuter routes into London, Leeds, Newcastle and Edinburgh.

It is also vital as a freight route, linking major ports to distribution centres and power stations across the country.