GRAND CENTRAL APPLIES FOR EXTRA SERVICES

OPEN ACCESS operator Grand Central has begun consultation on a proposed track access application for additional services on its North East and West Riding routes.

GC is looking to operate an additional return Sunderland to King’s Cross service on the North East route, with a mid-morning departure from Sunderland and a mid-afternoon return to fill gaps in the current timetable. On the West Riding route, the proposal is for an additional service from Bradford Interchange to London, departing in the late afternoon, an early morning service from Wakefield Kirkgate reaching London before 07.30, and a late evening service departing London before 22.00 which would be 10 carriages long, splitting at Doncaster into portions for Wakefield and York.

The operator is also looking to add calls at Peterborough for the first time. These would be in its early morning and late evening West Yorkshire services as well as two North East services.

As we reported last month (p9), GC also plans to apply to run services to Cleethorpes, with West Riding services running in 10-car formations and splitting at Doncaster. The operator hopes the new services could begin in 2020. The additional services are supported by the expansion of GC’s fleet, which now comprises 10 Class 180 DMUs, currently undergoing a refurbishment programme.