Grand Central, an open access operator owned by Arriva, has announced that they have submitted an application to the ORR that could see a quoted 30% increase in services connecting the North East and West Yorkshire with London Kings Cross.
Two additional services, between Bradford and London, will bring the total number of services on the route, which stops at 8 stations in between, to six a day.
Services will call at Low Moor, Halifax, Brighouse, Wakefield, Pontefract, Doncaster and Peterborough.
It also includes an additional early morning connection from York to London and a late evening return trip.
If approved, the plans could see more than 550,000 seats made available, and a total uplift of 30% compared to what is available today.
Grand Central also wants to introduce new direct services for Seaham in Durham, providing four services to London and will be the towns first and only connection with London.
Services could launch as soon as May 2025 if approved.
“These proposals would bring more services and choice to passengers, building on the success of Grand Central’s open access operations, which connect a number of under-served communities in both the North East and West Yorkshire to London. This is a growth opportunity for the railway and a positive development for passengers and for our colleagues at Grand Central. By delivering additional services through open access, we can encourage more train travel, which is good for the environment and for communities, helping to ensure Britain’s rail system can thrive long into the future.”
David Brown, Managing Director of Arriva’s UK Trains division
Responses
I think it would be nice to see Grand Central to extend their service to other destinations such as Scarborough and to continue on using Class 180 Adelantes.
I go to Sunderland about 3/4 times a year to see family from London kings cross there a great service I’ve only had two delays one was the weather and one was the air con on the train didn’t work so we had to change trains but they allways bing help fill and nice people on the phone if u need to sort tickets ok I give them 10 out of 10
Where is the capacity on the bottom end of the East Coast main line coming from. I understand the planners are struggling with the December timetable.
I have travelled on Grand Central many times. Trains are often cancelled and the rolling stock is old and poorly maintained. More trains are no good unless the quality of the service is vastly improved.
I often need to commute to London, and being able to hop on a direct service from my nearest station, Low Moor, is amazing. Slow, but very convenient. More services would be the cat’s whiskers.
Will the additional 2 trains planned stop at Mirfield
Cannot see GC being allowed to abstract passengers from the one size fits all passenger monopoly coming our way after the change in government.