Arriva’s


British
open
access
operator
Grand
Central
is
applying
for
a
licence
extension,
saying
that
it
will
order
new
bi-mode
trains
if
the
extension
is
granted.

Grand
Central
is
asking
the
Office
of
Rail
and
Road
for
a
continuation
of
its
track
access
rights
beyond
2027.
GC
had
already
applied
earlier
this
year
for
a
new
station
call
at
Seaham,
and
additional
services
between
York
and
London.

If
it
does
order
new
trains
they
would
replace
the
present
fleet,
which
is
24
years
old.

Arriva
bought
Grand
Central
in
2011,
but
Grand
Central
began
operating
on
its
first
route
between
London
and
Sunderland
in
December
2007.

However,
its
application
had
triggered
court
action
by
the
Intercity
East
Coast
franchise
operator
GNER,
which
claimed
that
its
new
competitor
benefited
from
lower
track
access
charges.
GNER
did
not
succeed,
and
surrendered
its
contract.

Grand
Central
said
its
application
had
been
approved
by
local
businesses
which
included
Hays
Travel
and
Halifax
Town
football
club,
as
well
as the
West
and
North
Yorkshire
Chamber
of
Commerce.

Paul
Hutchings
is
the
managing
director
responsible
for
Grand
Central.

He
said:
‘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.’