Grand Central has submitted its application to the rail regulator, the Office for Rail and Road (ORR), to extend its track access rights in Yorkshire and the North East beyond 2027. If approved, this will secure Grand Central’s long-term future in the region.
If approved, the application could unlock the conditions for Grand Central to invest in new, state-of-the-art bi-mode trains. These trains would replace the current 24-year-old rolling stock and could increase capacity on the line by up to 20%, offering more services to customers and making journeys more reliable and comfortable. The trains would also cut carbon emissions and could serve the UK long into the future as they operate on both electric and non-electric tracks.
Grand Central links 15 destinations to London King’s Cross, and is the only operator to connect underserved areas like Sunderland, Halifax, Hartlepool, and Pontefract directly to London. Its services are provided using available rail network capacity, run at no cost to the taxpayer, and can offer passengers savings of up to 80% on fares compared to other long-distance operators.
The move builds on Grand Central’s previous application to the regulator earlier this year to deliver additional services and new stops across Yorkshire and the North East. This would include new services to Seaham, which would be the town’s first and only direct connection to London, and additional services from York to London.
“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, said.
Both applications have been backed by local businesses including Hays Travel, F.C. Halifax Town, and the West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, which have acknowledged the crucial role Grand Central’s services play in boosting regional growth. Grand Central’s services support an area outside London with a combined GDP of GBP 113 billion, and connect businesses and workforces in major cities such as Sunderland, Bradford, Peterborough, and Doncaster to the commercial opportunities that can unlock their potential and drive economic growth.
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