Arriva

is
applying
for
an
extension
to
the
track
access
agreement
for
Grand
Central,
which
would
take
its
open
access
licence
to
2038.

The
application
to
the
Office
of
Rail
and
Road
for
another
15
years
on
its
East
Coast
Main
Line
routes
includes
proposals
for
a
new
fleet
of
bi-mode
trains
to
replace
the
Class
180
Alstom
diesels,
which
were
built
at
the
start
of
this
century.

Arriva
said
a
new
fleet
would
mean
that
it
could
offer
20
per
cent
more
seats
on
Grand
Central
between
London
and
Sunderland,
and
London
and
Bradford.

It
has
started
a
consultation
with
stakeholders
about
its
ambitions.

Arriva
UK
Trains
managing
director
David
Brown
said:
‘Grand
Central
plays
an
important
role
within
Arriva
Group’s
rail
portfolio
and
securing
long-term
access
will
allow
us
to
invest
and
grow,
supporting
the
Government’s
ambitions
for
Britain’s
railways
to
thrive.
Grand
Central
provides
reliable
and
efficient
journeys
to
passengers
who
would
otherwise
not
have
access
to
services
and
therefore
plays
an
essential
role
in
economic
growth
by
connecting
communities
across
the
north
of
England.’

It
is
Arriva’s
second
application
to
the
ORR
for
an
expansion
of
Grand
Central
this
year.

On
20
May
Arriva
proposed
to
run
up
to
two
more
daily
return
services
between
London
and
Bradford,
provide
an
additional
early
morning
departure
from
York
to
London
King’s
Cross
and
a
late-evening
return
service,
four
daily
calls
at
Seaham
on
the
Sunderland
route
and
more
calls
at
Peterborough.

However,
Network
Rail
replied
on
28
June
that
it
‘cannot
currently
support
the
additional
rights
…
because
they
would
potentially
interact
with
other
known
applications
…
Grand
Central
at present
does
not
call
at
Seaham
and
so
Network
Rail
would
need
to
understand
the operational
risk
assessment
for
such
calls.’

Arriva
is
currently
the
holder
of
National
Rail
contracts
for
CrossCountry
and
Chiltern
Railways,
but
these
are
due
to
be
terminated
as
part
of
the
government’s
plans
to

renationalise
the
remaining
former
passenger
franchises
over
the
next
three
years.
It
also
holds
the
Transport
for
London
concession
to
operate
London
Overground.