Open-access train operator Grand Central has applied to the rail regulator to extend its track access rights across Yorkshire and the North East beyond 2027.
The application to the Office for Rail and Road (ORR) is aimed at securing its long-term future in the region and increasing capacity and is supported by local organisations including Hays Travel, F.C. Halifax Town, and the West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce.
These all acknowledge that Grand Central can play a role in boosting regional connectivity and local growth.
The company currently provides links from 15 stations in the north-east to London King’s Cross and is the only operator to provide direct services to London from stations such as Sunderland, Halifax, Hartlepool, and Pontefract.
Grand Central operates its services using spare capacity on the national rail network, and its fares are up to 80% less than other long-distance operators.
Approval of Grand Central’s application would allow it to replace its current 24-year-old rolling stock with new, state-of-the-art Bi-Mode trains.
These could increase capacity by 20% with more services and provide customers with better reliability and comfort.
An added advantage of the new trains is their reduced carbon emissions and ability to operate on both electric and non-electric tracks.
Earlier this year, Grand Central applied to the regulator for authority to run extra services with additional stops across Yorkshire and the North East. These include new services to Seaham for its first and only direct connection to London, and extra services from York to London via Peterborough.
“We’re proud of the role we play at Grand Central in connecting underserved communities across Yorkshire and the North East, and we’re grateful to be backed by local businesses who recognise the crucial role our services play in connecting businesses to opportunities that drive local growth. We want to secure our long-term future in the region, creating the conditions to unlock investment in new trains at no cost to the taxpayer – expanding capacity and enabling us to deliver an even better experience for our passengers and the communities we serve.”
Paul Hutchings, Managing Director responsible for Grand Central
Responses
If this open operator can offer fares 80% cheaper than the Train Operating Company on the route then they are not being charged enough for Track Access .. So are being subsidised by the tax payer .. through revenue extraction.
CAF who are to manufacture the Class 897 Tri-mode Civity trains for LNER to replace the Class 91 Intercity 225 rolling stocks and to start introducing them in service in 2026.
Perhaps they could build and manufacture the Bi/Tri-mode Civity trains that would replace the Class 180 and Class 221 units that Grand Central are currently using them at the moment. Rather than Hitachi to manufacture more new IET trains.
Can North Lincolnshire have a direct train to London, starting at Cleethorpes, stopping at Scunthorpe and Doncaster, from there maybe a stop at Retford then London King’s Cross
Lowering carbon being a benefit is completely wrong. It’s a disadvantage to organisms trying to carry out photosynthesis. I.e. the process that feeds everything on earth
Please, please, please not the Hitachi trains, they are awful. Uncomfortable, noisy, not that well made, poor seats….. a worse train than the HST from fifty years ago. If you want a bi-mode then at least make it a Stadler.
The Lumo Hitachi sets are living proof it is possible to have a clasd 80x with comfy seats!
Totally disagree. The Hitachi trains on the south Wales mainline are marvellous trains, I can’t fault them. I find them comfortable and not at all overly noisy . Are they are match for the old 125 trains….absolutely not, they’re unbeatable really, we shouldn’t compare.
DfT chose the uncomfortable seats for early class 80Xs (i.e. GWR). Blame DfT rather than the operators. Operators like LNER, TPE, Lumo and AWC choose the seat and it is more acceptable.
HST was cutting edge at the time and BREL put the best stuff on it. Hitachi IET, well, is just a mid-range product that is cutting cost in equipment to be more ‘cost-effective’.
I think it will be Hitachi to manufacture the Class 8xx Bi-mode for Grand Central as the Intercity Express Trains/AT300s are capable of reaching speeds up to 125mph on the East Coast Main Line.
I should think that Hitachi are the prefer bidders to manufacture new Bi-mode Class 8xx Bi-mode trains and the Class 180 Adelentes to be cascaded elsewhere or to be stored.