Does the Azuma (Class 800/801) make you motion sick?
Riders who feel rough on the West Coast Main Line often ask whether the east coast is different. It is, and the reason is geometry rather than the train. The East Coast Main Line runs straighter, so its Azuma trains were built with no tilt at all, and the ride between London and Edinburgh involves far less curving than the Pendolino route to Glasgow.
East Coast Main Line, UK · No tilt, gentler geometry
Key facts
- The Class 800 family was built for the Intercity Express Programme with no tilting equipment.
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Why the Azuma (Class 800/801) feels the way it does
Tilt: None
Hitachi Class 800 series with no tilting equipment. The East Coast Main Line's gentler curves never required tilt.
The two London to Scotland main lines solved the same problem differently because they inherited different railways. The west coast route winds through the hills, so its trains tilt. The east coast route follows flatter country up the eastern side of the country, so its Class 800 series trains never needed tilting equipment, a question Hitachi and the Intercity Express Programme settled at design time. For a motion-sensitive rider choosing between the two corridors to Scotland, the east coast is the lower-stimulus ride most of the way.
Where it runs
- LNERLondon Kings Cross to Leeds, York, Edinburgh and Inverness; GWR runs Class 800s in the west
Give the screen a break
Close your laptop and look outside between stretches of work. Keep ordinary headphones accessible if you choose Dizzout.
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What helps on board
- The east coast route is the gentler of the two London to Scotland lines, so most susceptible riders manage fine: eyes up through the few winding stretches is usually enough.
- If you read the whole way, glance out at the horizon every few minutes; long screen locks are what let mild sway accumulate.
- Cool air from the vent and a plain meal beforehand cover the rest.
- Pack the drug-free rescue: a sound therapy session through any headphones, with relief in about 90 seconds.
Where to sit is its own question, answered properly in where to sit on a train for motion sickness. And for why trains set people off at all, from sway to reading to tilting stock, see the train motion sickness guide.
Frequently asked questions
Do Azuma trains tilt?
No. The East Coast Main Line's curves are gentle enough that the Class 800 series was specified without tilt. The question came up during their design and the answer was that the route did not justify it.
Is London to Edinburgh gentler than London to Glasgow?
By rail, generally yes for a motion-sensitive rider: the east coast route is straighter and its trains do not tilt, while the west coast route winds and its Pendolinos lean into the curves. Both are fast; they just move you differently.
Can I still feel queasy on an Azuma?
Any train can do it to a susceptible rider, especially with reading or screen work. But the specific tilting-train mismatch is absent, and the route geometry gives your inner ear less to object to than the winding west coast alternative.
Other trains and lines
Sources & further reading
Your next question, probably
Feeling it right now, on board?
The 60-second protocol
Not your question? Why do trains set some people off?What actually has evidence?How prone are you, really?
Details on this page reflect published operator, heritage and engineering information as of September 2026; services, fleets and tilt settings change, so check with the operator before you travel. Train, route and operator names are trademarks of their respective owners; Dizzout is not affiliated with or endorsed by them. Motion sickness sensitivity varies from person to person; this page is informational and not medical advice.