HSTs Trans-Pennine in 2004?

micksasse · Post by **micksasse** » Sun Oct 26, 2003 9:46 pm

Possibly I'm the last person to have noticed this interesting looking article in Modern Railways (and apologies if someone else has posted on this), but I gather that from next year a new operator by the name of Grand Central Railway is to start operating 4 pairs of (5-car, initially) HST services on an open-access basis Newcastle-York-Wakefield-Manchester Vic-Preston (odd route being to avoid competing excessively with TPE services and due to line capacity issues). Stock will be ex-VXC HSTs.

Must admit, as a regular traveller from Newcastle to Manchester, I rather look forward to this!

Post by **martinhodgson** » Sun Oct 26, 2003 10:03 pm

Nice. Still the chance to see the HST locally!

BTW, whats an 'open access' operator?

60085 · Post by **60085** » Sun Oct 26, 2003 11:31 pm

Any images of their livery? I do hope it isn't a garish thing. The name (to me) suggests a more subtle approach, possibly with a crest.

http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/licensing_access/la832.html

Seems to be a load of .pdf documents regarding the proposal.

johncas · Post by **johncas** » Sun Oct 26, 2003 11:53 pm

Grand Central Railway is an odd name wonder if they wanted to call it Great Central Railway but of course that name is already is use and some heritage railway guides well at least one I have names the Great Central Railway as being called the Grand Central Railway dont know it that is a mistake

jonhewes · Post by **jonhewes** » Mon Oct 27, 2003 10:12 am

I think it'd have been far better to let GNER have those HST sets, because they'd be able to use them to their full potential (ie not have a hornby style hst) and also extend their services to other cities.

For example, there was talk of GNER re-instating a Cleethorps to London (via Lincoln) service which had been withdrawn back in 1993. This would be far more effective than wasting HST power cars on short length trains which could be hauled by 31s or 33s or maybe some of the displaced 37s &47s.

nightbeaver911 · Post by **nightbeaver911** » Mon Oct 27, 2003 12:15 pm

Apparently GCR (Great Central Railway) has rights to all of the ex-Virgin HST sets, including MML's project Rio!

Ravensthorpe · Post by **Ravensthorpe** » Mon Oct 27, 2003 4:25 pm

They have a web site at http://www.grandcentralrail.co.uk some very interesting ideas to scare other operators - seat or money back will embarass a few of their co-line users for starters.

nightbeaver911 · Post by **nightbeaver911** » Mon Oct 27, 2003 4:31 pm

Livery looks posh!

Yeah you can get 50% back if you are forced to stand, but they could cause trouble, as im sure some people would prefer to stand and get 50% back making the train managers life hell

Maybe.

petermakosch · Post by **petermakosch** » Mon Oct 27, 2003 4:47 pm

i will try and paint it for you's all

n863dwt · Post by **n863dwt** » Mon Oct 27, 2003 5:04 pm

i only have opne concern about this grand central...
with the stock being painted black or dark colours will that notr make the trains rather warm int he summer...?
well that and the fact that they are taking yellow section advice from GNER which i do not think looks all that good....
but hey i will wait to see a unit in the flesh before fully judgeing it any more...
but nice to have another operator running.

60085 · Post by **60085** » Mon Oct 27, 2003 5:24 pm

There was a interview on Radio Newcastle a few weeks back.
The host said that the money back only occurs if you've booked a tickt in advance and are hen forced to stand. Not sure whether there was a misunderstanding with the host of the show, wheter they've amended it or if this is still the case.

Are they going to introduce a Sunderland or Newcastle Central to Gateshead Metro Centre service

? 125 sets would be nice. Come to think of t anything would be better than Arriva's bollox

!

simont · Post by **simont** » Mon Oct 27, 2003 6:16 pm

Wow, that looks brilliant.

Post by **martinhodgson** » Mon Oct 27, 2003 6:51 pm

Regarding the 'standing discount', it would probably require the train manager to verify that there were no seats left on the train, or else everyone would just stand up and crowd the aisles for a 50% discount.

johncas · Post by **johncas** » Mon Oct 27, 2003 8:00 pm

Tray layout looks good with Cycle Storage in the HST Power Car Storage area

http://www.grandcentralrail.co.uk/graph ... layout.jpg

Post by **martinhodgson** » Mon Oct 27, 2003 8:17 pm

looks nice, I like the livery. I wonder if the fares trans pennine are any cheaper then Arriva (Â£36 Lancaster - York!!!)