LNER Azuma Tests Midland Main Line Diversion Route During Overnight Trial

An LNER Azuma has made another test run on the Midland Main Line as the operator continues to examine whether services could use alternative routes during major engineering work on the East Coast Main Line.

The overnight trial took place from Wednesday night into Thursday morning, 4 June 2026, using a nine-car bi-mode Azuma set, number 800104.

LNER said the work forms part of its wider planning for periods when parts of the East Coast Main Line are closed for significant engineering work, with the operator looking at whether some trains could be diverted to keep passengers moving.

The test train began its journey at Leeds before leaving the East Coast Main Line at Doncaster. It then joined the Midland Main Line at Chesterfield.

During its southbound run, the train called at Leicester, Kettering, Wellingborough and Bedford. It then returned north, stopping at the same stations on the way back.

LNER teams carried out a series of safety and validation checks at each of the intermediate stops. The latest run was intended to help inform future operational decisions if LNER services are ever able to carry passengers over the diversionary route.

The test follows an earlier trial in March 2025, when an LNER Azuma ran along the Midland Main Line into London St Pancras.

On this occasion, the focus included testing calls at stations along the route, rather than simply proving the ability to run over the line.

LNER said further work will still be needed before any decision can be made on whether some services could be diverted via the Midland Main Line. If the option is cleared in future, it could give passengers more choice during engineering work and reduce the need for some disrupted journeys to be broken up.

Gunnar Lindahl, Joint Operations Director for LNER and Network Rail, said:

“We know that engineering work can be disruptive for customers when they want to travel. This viability work is crucial in understanding whether we can provide customers with an alternative option to travel, staying onboard trains. It has been good to carry out this additional test train after previously running down the Midland Main Line last year. These things take time, but we’ll continue to work with our partners in the industry to further understand whether we may be able to run trains on diversion routes with customers onboard in the future."

Image: LNER