Grand Central has announced that it will suspend all train services from today, Friday 3rd April 2020, as Coronavirus continues to affect passenger numbers.
The operator, which runs services between Sunderland, Bradford and London Kings Cross, has said that measures were necessary but temporary.
It is anticipated that services will be suspended for an initial two months.
The operator is an Open Access operator, like Hull Trains, and does not receive support from the Government.
What did the officials say?
Grand Central Managing Director, Richard McClean, said:
“So far we have offered a rail service, under a reduced timetable, in order to keep key-workers moving at a time of crisis. This comes with all the costs of running a train service, while bringing no ticket revenue to our business.
“This situation is unsustainable and, following several days of discussion with the Department for Transport (DfT), we have no alternative but to suspend our services.
“Customers who have a ticket to travel with Grand Central can claim a full refund from the place they bought their ticket. People who absolutely need to travel, in line with government restrictions, can use their Grand Central ticket to travel on other train companies’ services.”
“We have also paused, until early 2021, the preparations for our new Blackpool to London Euston services, and the launch of our planned extra daily trains on Grand Central’s Sunderland to Kings Cross route.”
“A skeleton team will continue working to ensure Grand Central is ready to resume services as a thriving train operator, serving communities across the country, once restrictions ease,” he added.
“We recognise this will be disappointing news and we know how many people rely on our services and we thank all our customers for their fantastic support and understanding.”
“I emphasise that while these measures are necessary now, we are planning for them to be temporary,” he said. “Grand Central enters this new chapter from a strong position. My team and I will do everything we can to get Grand Central back on track once restrictions are lifted. Until then, please stay safe”.
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Responses
But it is run by Parent company Arriva Trains UK. Will Arriva achieve what they are doing since they’ve lost the Northern Trains franchise back in early March.
And are still franchising the Chiltern Railways franchise until December 2021. And the Crosscountry franchise until October this year which other franchises could take over the Crosscountry franchise in October this year (ie Trenitalia, Govia, Abellio etc).
Why the exclamation mark? Are you serious journalists or aspiring to write for the Sun?