LNER Intercity 225 (UK)

For the time being these InterCity 225 trains provide some of the services on the East Coast mainline to and from King’s Cross station in London.

By the end of 2021 they will have been replaced on most departures by the new Azuma trains, but despite nearing the end of their service, these trains have had their interiors refreshed in recent years, so they’re comparatively smart and comfortable.

These InterCity 225 trains now topically only operate on these two routes (generally the slower services on routes shared with the Azuma trains):
(1) London (King’s Cross) – Peterborough/Grantham – Doncaster – Wakefield - Leeds
(2) London (King’s Cross) – Peterborough - Grantham - Newark - Retford - Doncaster - York

Note that they don’t travel to and from destinations beyond Leeds and York.

At King’s Cross and the stations in Leeds and York where these InterCity 225 trains commence their journeys, the number of the platform (track) that a specific departure will be leaving from, normally appears on the information screens 10 -15 minutes prior to departure.

This will signal the start of a race to board the train, join the throng if you have luggage, the space for storing luggage isn’t particularly generous, particularly in Standard Class
But if you don’t have luggage, but do have a reservation, you can take your time as your seat(s) will be waiting for you to occupy them.

If you will be boarding at a station the train calls at during a journey, there are now usually signs on the platform (track) which will show you where to wait for speedy boarding into each coach/carriage.

Don’t just check the coach/carriage numbers by the doors, also check the seat number info that’s on the outside of the train.
All coaches will have two doors, one at each end and the other door may be nearer to your seat.

Good to know

Worth knowing is that you don’t have to occupy the seat you have been assigned, for your travel ticket to be valid - the train conductor will check the ticket, but not the reservation.
So if for any reason you want to travel in a different seat, you can do so, as long as you check that the alternative seat(s) you want to move to hasn't been reserved, so will be available for your journey.

As you enter the coach/carriage check to see what other seats are free, which is comparatively easy to do thanks to the seat-sensor devices that LNER has installed above each set of seats.

If you don’t have heavy luggage, after departure it can be worth having a walk through the train, to see what seats are available in other coaches.
It’s not unknown for some of the coaches on the train to relatively busy, while others will be comparatively empty.

On the main information screens at the larger stations, at the foot of the information for each train departure (below its list of calling points), you should be able to see something which resembles a table/chart.
This info will show which of the coaches on the train will be busy, because most of the seats in them have been reserved, and which will be comparatively empty.

So if you don’t have a reservation, you can identify which coaches are likely to have the most seats available and head for them when boarding.

Nine Things that are good to know about travelling on an InterCity 225 train:

(1) Complimentary Wi-Fi access is available throughout the train.

(2) Power sockets are available at all 1st class seats and at table seats in Standard Class - when booking Standard Class tickets online you can choose access to power sockets as a preference, when making a reservation.

(3) Each 1st and Standard Class coach on the train offers a mix of table seats and airline style seats, and you can specify a preference for being sat at a table seat(s) when booking tickets.

(4) When making a booking on the LNER website ShowMeTheJourney recommends checking the location of the seats you'll be assigned on the seating plan.
You can check if you have been offered a forward facing seat - and if you’ll be travelling with luggage, you can also check how near you will be to the luggage racks.
If you want to, you can then select alternative seat(s) on the seating plan.

(5) Though something you won’t be able to confirm on the seating plan is whether the seat(s) you have been assigned will have a good view – not all of the seats in both First and Standard Class line up with the windows.

(6) An at-seat catering service is provided in both First Class and Standard Class (second class)

(7) Coach B in Standard Class is designated a Quiet Coach, in this coach travellers are requested not to make or receive calls during a journey.
Seats in the 'Quiet Coach' can be requested when booking tickets online.

(8) The luggage allowance is three pieces of luggage per person.

(8) Up to two dogs can travel for free with an individual or group of travellers.

These trains have both wheelchair spaces and seats with additional leg-room, but even if you don’t require these specific services, the LNER assisted travel team can help with planning a journey and booking tickets.

Spaces for non-folding bikes must be reserved ahead of travel, but these bike spaces can’t be booked online, instead you can call the LNER support team on 03457 225 111.
ShowMeTheJourney recommends booking your bike space and travel tickets on the same call.

That's because there are a maximum of five bike spaces per train, but you will have to choose a specific departure when booking travel tickets online
So if you book your travel tickets separately first, there’s a chance that you’ll subsequently discover that no bike spaces will then be available on the train you have booked tickets for.