Regulator ORR has approved Grand Central’s application to continue its existing network through until 2038.
Grand Central operates from London King’s Cross to Bradford and Sunderland – serving destinations en route which can be neglected by the big TOCs (the franchised train operators).
It is a private operator and being open access it must accept financial risk.
Grand Central will order nine new trains to replace its existing diesel sets. They are being leased from Angel Trains in a deal worth £300 million.
The new trains will be tri-mode (battery/electric/diesel powered) because although Grand Central runs along the East Coast Mainline much of the time, it does branch off and continues over non-electrified sections of track. Full details can be seen here.
Says Transport Minister Heidi Alexander:
“This new £300 million investment marks yet another step forward in securing the future of rail manufacturing in the North East.
“Not only will this battery technology deliver greener journeys for passengers, but it will also boost skills for the workforce and futureproof jobs.”
These trains will be manufactured by Hitachi at its modern plant in the Northeast. They will be delivered to Grand Central in 2028.
PM Sir Keir Starmer visited the Hitachi plant last December and promised staff that a Labour government would protect their jobs.
Each of these nine coach trains will comprise five carriages. One concern is whether or not these five-car trains will offer the capacity to cope with future growth on the East Coast Mainline.
Yes two five-car sets will be able to operate as a ten-car train, but then there would be less capacity for other services.
