Grand Central (train operating company)
| File:Grand Central Trains logo.jpg | |
 | |
| Franchise(s) | Open-access operator Not subject to franchising; 2007 - 2011 |
|---|---|
| Main route(s) | London Kings Cross – Sunderland |
| Other route(s) | None |
| Fleet size | 2 (3 planned) |
| Stations called at | 7 |
| Parent company | Equishare Partners |
| Other | |
| Website | www.grandcentralrail.co.uk |
|}
Grand Central Railway Company Ltd is a privately-owned train operating company running services under the name Grand Central within the United Kingdom.
The company is an open access operator on the rail network and runs a service linking Sunderland, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough and Stockton-on-Tees (at Eaglescliffe) and London King's Cross. Services began on 18 December 2007 using an interim timetable until all rolling-stock is available.[1]
Background
Grand Central aim to operate three return trips per day between the north-east of England and the capital city, London along the East Coast Main Line (ECML). Initially one return trip from Sunderland, and two from York are being offered.
Following the model of the Hull Trains, the services are run on a fully commercial, unsubsidised basis using the "open access" process to gain access to the rail network. The majority of other services in the UK are instead operated through Department for Transport (DfT)-run franchises, including most of the principal National Rail train service operators.
The route launched covers a distance of 266 miles (427 km) with over two-thirds of that distance run non-stop between York station and London King's Cross. The service is operated using rebuilt HST rolling-stock capable of 125 mph (200 km/h); procuring and renovating sufficient compatible rolling-stock had been blamed by the company for delaying the launch.
History
The company was formed in the mid-1990s, and was later purchased by the Fraser Eagle Group, provider of rail replacement coach services to many UK train operating companies, including Grand Central's main competitor GNER (now National Express East Coast). A former manager of Prism Rail, backed by a private equity group bought Grand Central from the Fraser Eagle Group for a sum of GBP 10 million on 13 March 2007 [2].
Grand Central originally planned to operate high-speed train services between Newcastle upon Tyne and Manchester across the Calder Valley. This proposal was rejected by the Rail Regulator in 2004.
On 23 March 2006, Grand Central received approval from the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) for a contract with Network Rail, lasting a minimum of five years, allowing it to operate three passenger services per day in each direction between London and Sunderland, expected to start no later than December 2006. Problems in obtaining suitable rolling-stock led to the date for the start of service being put back to May 2007.[3] However, further delays in refurbishing rolling stock for the service has delayed the start further, with the service planned to begin in September 2007, [4] then November.[5] By this date, Grand Central had managed to get a shortened HST running on trials between Sunderland, York and London for crew training purposes, and had sufficient stock to form one of its complete trains, but any entry into service required more stock becoming available and being cleared to carry passengers by the DfT, the ORR, HM Railway Inspectorate and Network Rail. As a consequence, the start date further slipped to December 2007, a full year after the originally planned start.[6]
Competition with other services
The ECML is one of the busiest lines on the rail network and there is currently insufficient capacity on parts of the line to satisfy all the requirements of both passenger and freight operators. The principal long-distance passenger train operator on the east coast is National Express East Coast (NXEC), which on 9 December 2007 began a franchise with the DfT which will run until March 2015, taking over from the Great North Eastern Railway (GNER) which had surrendered the contract early due to the financial difficulties of its parent company.
As a result of capacity uncertainties, Grand Central was not given regulatory approval to run the originally proposed service to Bradford. It had proposed splitting and joining the Sunderland and Bradford trains at Doncaster, with a single service to and from London King's Cross but the plan was rejected following concerns expressed by Network Rail.
Grand Central has promised to give an immediate 50% refund to any passenger unable to find a seat at any time during the journey.
GNER vigorously opposed the prospect of on-rail competition on the east coast main line from Grand Central. The regulatory hearing at the ORR saw strong objections to Grand Central's services from GNER, but these were rejected. GNER then challenged the legality of the ORR's decisions by bringing a judicial review of ORR's decision in the High Court. On 27 July 2006, GNER's case failed and the High Court ruled that the ORR's decision to allow Grand Central access to the national railway network - paying access charges which are structurally different from (and lower than) those payable by franchised passenger train operators - was legal.[7]
The Grand Central service is linking parts of the North East that have not had a direct service to London for many years.
Rolling stock
Grand Central have three HST trains formed of Class 43 (HST) power cars and Mark 3 coaches. The power cars, numbered 43065/067/068/080/084/123[8] all have buffers since they were all previously modified for use with Class 91 locomotives before the Mark 4 sets were available. The coaches consist of six HST trailer vehicles (3 TRSB and 3 TGS) and 18 ex locomotive hauled Mk3a coaches built for the West Coast Main Line.
| Class | Image | Type | Top speed | Number | Routes operated | Built | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mph | km/h | ||||||
| Class 43 High Speed Train | 
|
Diesel Power car | 125 | 200 | 6 | London King's Cross - Sunderland | 1976–1982 |
| Mark 3 coach | 
|
Passenger Rolling stock | 125 | 200 | 24 | London King's Cross - Sunderland | 1975–1988 |
Rolling stock procurement
Grand Central had originally planned to use a fleet of five of Bombardier Transportation’s five-carriage Class 222 Diesel-electric Multiple Unit (DEMU) 125 mph (200 km/h) trains, similar to those that were already in use with Hull Trains and Midland Mainline, and related to the Class 220/221. However, there were difficulties in securing these units which led Grand Central to make alternative plans.
On October 5 2006, it was announced that Grand Central had secured the use of six Class 43 power cars, and 24 Mark 3 trailer vehicles. The former loco hauled Mark 3a coaches required a complete rewiring in order to work with the power cars as they have different electrical requirements.[9] This caused the company's start date to be pushed back to 20 May 2007[10] and then further to again to September 2007, and again at a later update.
In August 2007, Grand Central hired a pair of Class 47 locomotives and a rake of five Mark 3 coaches, from DRS, to enable its staff to learn the route prior to the introduction of its HST fleet.[11]
In April 2007, Grand Central announced plans to lease brand new rolling stock from 2010 to replace the HSTs, on the provision that its track-access contract is extended beyond the initial five years. In conjunction with Sovereign Trains, a newly formed rolling stock lessor, Grand Central plans to obtain new Polaris DEMU trains from China. These new express trains could be capable of up to 140 mph, which will allow them to take advantage of any future speed limit increases on the ECML.[12].
Route
Grand Central operate services from London King's Cross to Sunderland. The service passes through the stations at Seaham, Billingham, Stockton-on-Tees and Yarm but does not serve them, it is currently unknown if these would be served in the future.
Grand Central runs two named trains. The Zephyr leaves from Sunderland on Monday-Friday mornings at 06:46. The final northbound departure runs asThe 21st Century Limited leaving from King's Cross at 16:50.[13] The naming is a homage to the American 20th Century Limited, now run as the Lake Shore Limited by Amtrak between New York and Chicago.
Proposed future services
In addition to its services to Sunderland, Grand Central has also expressed plans for a number of other routes.
London-Bradford
As part of its original proposal, Grand Central also sought to run services between Kings Cross and Bradford. The company has maintained this ambition, with a proposal to run four services per day each way.
Grand Union
Under the name Grand Union, Grand Central has developed a case for running services over two additional routes; Doncaster to Bradford Interchange, and London Euston to Bradford Interchange via Huddersfield.
Other proposed routes
Grand Central was originally linked with a proposal to run shortened HSTs between Newcastle and Preston, via the Durham Coast, York, Wakefield, Brighouse, Rochdale and Manchester. It later suggested a York to Chester service to be run by DMUs (probably Class 158s displaced from TransPennine Express). Neither of these proposals was approved.[citation needed]
References
- ^ "Passenger services begin Tuesday 18th December". Grand Central. 2007-12-18.
- ^ Former Prism bosses buy Grand Central in £10 million deal The Independent 14/03/07
- ^ "London rail service winner has no trains". The Journal. 2006-10-07.
- ^ "Second delay for new rail service". BBC News. 2007-04-26. Retrieved 2007-04-27.
- ^ "A MESSAGE FROM GRAND CENTRAL'S NEW MANAGING DIRECTOR TOM CLIFT". Grand Central. 2007-10-16. Retrieved 2007-10-25.
- ^ "LATEST NEWS ON GRAND CENTRAL LAUNCH". Grand Central. 2007-11-19. Retrieved 2007-11-21.
- ^ "GNER fails to block rival's east coast line service". The Guardian. 2006-07-28.
- ^ "125 History - Privatisation 2005 - Present". 125Group.
- ^ "Grand Central Railway to operate HST power cars and loco-hauled Mk3s". The RailwayCentre.Com.
- ^ "New rail service launch delayed". BBC News.
- ^ "Sunderland – London crew training trips start next week". Grand Central.
- ^ "Rail company's Chinese trains bid". BBC News.
- ^ "Grand Central announces Safety Case acceptance". Grand Central. 2007-03-09.
External links
- Grand Central Railway, official website.
- Grand Central Railway, map showing Sunderland service along with GNER, Hull Trains, and the rejected Bradford route.
- BBC News, Clear track ahead for new train firm?, 2006–03–03.
