Grand Central

Lumo Class 803 and LNER Azuma unit side by side at London King's Cross. ALAMY.

News

FirstGroup disputes £1bn open access abstraction claim on ECML

Report commissioned by public sector said open access could abstract more than £1bn in revenue over next decade.

FirstGroup 28 May

At York on April 20, Grand Central 180102 has arrived with the 1213 Sunderland-London King’s Cross, while CrossCountry 220018 and 221132 wait with the 1105 Edinburgh-Penzance. STEVE WIDDOWSON.

News

More details of Grand Central's Newcastle-Brighton plan as they want to "run in parallel" with CrossCountry services

Open access operator wants to follow CrossCountry's route between Newcastle and Reading.

Grand Central 14 May

Private operator… and state-owned franchisee. Lumo 803002 (left) with the 1023 London King’s Cross to Edinburgh stands at Newcastle on February 26 2023, alongside LNER 801211 on the competing 1003 King’s Cross-Edinburgh. Despite Labour’s nationalisation plans, the government has been supportive of open access. PAUL BIGGS.

News

Open access to cost LNER £1.1bn over next decade in abstracted revenue, report claims

New report suggests an average of £100 of revenue a year will be abstracted from state-run operator up until 2035.

East Coast Main Line 12 May

Grand Central's 180104 speeds through South Otterington (near Northallerton) on September 12 2024 with the 0853 Sunderland to London King’s Cross. ALEX AYRE.

News

Grand Central Cleethorpes-King's Cross service "would not affect ECML capacity"

Grand Central outlines draft timetable in forms submitted for industry consultation.

Grand Central 29 Apr

Grand Central 180110 passes St Neots (Cambridgeshire) on December 6 2023. The company is seeking additional stops at Peterborough and new paths to Yorkshire locations. ALAMY.

News

New Grand Central bid for direct Newcastle-Brighton service submitted

Arriva Group has unveiled plans to introduce the first-ever direct rail service between Newcastle and Brighton, passing through London Gatwick Airport.

Grand Central 25 Apr

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, centre, with North East Mayor Kim McGuinness and officials from Hitachi, Angel Trains and Grand Central being shown around Hitachi's Newton Aycliffe factory. HITACHI.

News

Transport Secretary: government still sees role for open access

Heidi Alexander makes comment during visit to Hitachi factory to mark Grand Central's order for nine tri-mode units.

Open access 16 Apr

An artist's impression of Grand Central's Hitachi tri-mode set. ARRIVA.

News

Grand Central announces Hitachi tri-mode order after securing 11-year track access extension

Open access operator announces £300m deal for Hitachi's first UK tri-mode units.

Grand Central 3 Apr

Lumo train enters Newcastle station. PAUL BIGGS.

News

Three operators opt out of displaying real-time performance data at railway stations

Trio of operators decline to take part in government drive to hold firms to account.

Lumo 1 Apr

News

Grand Central secures track access to Bradford and Sunderland until 2038

EXCLUSIVE: ORR approves 11-year extension for existing rights on East Coast Main Line.

Grand Central 28 Mar

News

Grand Central plans new direct Cleethorpes London service

Rail operator Arriva has announced plans to introduce a direct rail service between Cleethorpes, Grimsby, and London.

Open access 21 Mar

180107 Hart of the North heads non-stop through Peterborough with an afternoon Sunderland-King’s Cross service on July 28. NEIL PULLING

News

Network Rail assessing impact of Grand Central's plan for bi-mode trains on East Coast Main Line

Open access operator is looking to replace DMU fleet if existing track access rights are renewed

Grand Central 17 Jan

LNER on East Coast mainline service to Leeds

News

2025 ECML timetable agreement reached

A breakthrough in the East Coast Mainline 2025 timetable is close with details expected to be announced later this month by the Department for Transport (DfT).

ECML 4 Dec

The Class 717 used in East Coast Main Line signalling tests. NETWORK RAIL

News

Latest digital signalling tests deemed a 'success' after weekend closure of East Coast Main Line

Network Rail has said the tests bring programme of allowing trains on part of the East Coast Main Line to be controlled by digital signalling from late 2025 a step nearer

ETCS 3 Dec

Lumo 803 001 arrives at Newcastle Central forming the 1525 Edinburgh-King’s Cross on August 6 2022. Lumo is one of three open access operators on the East Coast Main Line. ANTONY GUPPY.

News

Office of Rail and Road inundated with more than 80 track applications

The ORR is shifting through more than 80 track applications after putting out a call for bids earlier this year

Office of Rail and Road 2 Dec

News

Grand Central hints at new train order as it requests to extend track access rights

Grand Central is requesting a decade-long track extension on its existing routes along the East Coast Main Line and into King's Cross

Grand Central 21 Nov

Grand Central Train passes through Spital Junction, Peterborough, 23 May 2023. RAIB.

News

RAIB warns that lessons have not been learnt as it releases overspeeding report at Spital Junction

A recent investigation by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) into a train overspeeding incident at Spital Junction, near Peterborough, has highlighted significant safety concerns.

RAIB 16 Sept

News

Grand Central Class 180 reaches 125mph in ETCS test on ECML

Grand Central 180108 now holds the British speed record using the European Train Control System, having reached 125mph during main-line tests in August.

ETCS 10 Sept

News

Grand Central promises new train investment in ORR application

Grand Central, an open access train operating company owned by Arriva Group UK, has announced plans to extend its services for the next 15 years.

Grand Central 3 Sept

News

Grand Central: calling at Peterborough

The Office of Rail and Road has given the go-ahead for some of Grand Central’s trains to call at Peterborough.

Grand Central 4 Jan

News

Sunderland station revamp under way

The first step towards transforming Sunderland station was made on May 2, when demolition of the old southern entrance began.

3 May

Grand Central

FirstGroup disputes £1bn open access abstraction claim on ECML

More details of Grand Central's Newcastle-Brighton plan as they want to "run in parallel" with CrossCountry services

Open access to cost LNER £1.1bn over next decade in abstracted revenue, report claims

Grand Central Cleethorpes-King's Cross service "would not affect ECML capacity"

New Grand Central bid for direct Newcastle-Brighton service submitted

Transport Secretary: government still sees role for open access

Grand Central announces Hitachi tri-mode order after securing 11-year track access extension

Three operators opt out of displaying real-time performance data at railway stations

Grand Central secures track access to Bradford and Sunderland until 2038

Grand Central plans new direct Cleethorpes London service

Network Rail assessing impact of Grand Central's plan for bi-mode trains on East Coast Main Line