Grand Union Railway
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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This article or section contains information about planned or expected public transportation in the United Kingdom.
It may contain information of a speculative nature and the content may change significantly as more information becomes available.
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| Franchise(s): | Open-access operator Not subject to franchising |
| Main route(s): | Bradford Interchange – London Euston |
| Other route(s): | Doncaster - Bradford Interchange |
| Fleet size: | |
| Stations called at: | 10 |
| Parent company: | Equishare Partners |
Grand Union[1] is an open-access passenger train operating company that has been set up by the parent company of Grand Central Railway with a view to running two separate train services in the United Kingdom. It has proposed services along the West Coast Main Line (WCML) from London Euston to Bradford Interchange via Huddersfield. This would allow the Calderdale and Kirklees areas to be served with a direct rail link to London. At the same time, it has proposed a semi-fast service between Doncaster and Bradford Interchange, using the same route that Grand Central proposed using for its King's Cross-Bradford services.
Network Rail have concluded that there would not be enough paths available in the 2008 indicative timetable for the London Euston to Bradford Interchange service to operate as proposed without affecting other services.[2] They suggest that a substantial re-write of the WCML timetable would be required and also note that the Virgin Trains route between London Euston and Stockport is currently protected from competing services. Initially it was thought that Grand Union would only be able to commence services in around 2011/2012 when the competition protection on the WCML will begin to lapse, allowing other services to be developed[3]; however, it is now believed that services could start as soon as 2009 as only the Stockport - London section is restricted[4] which can be achieved by London bound trains stopping at Stockport to set down only and Bradford/Huddersfield bound trains stopping at Stockport to pick up only.
In March 2008, Grand Union submitted a track access application for paths along the East Coast Main Line (ECML) for services to Bradford. This application follows the route to Doncaster, before travelling along the ECML to London King's Cross, and calls for up to six services in each direction per day. These services are planned using 125 mph (200 km/h) capable rolling stock, either in the form of further HSTs or Class 180 Adelante trains.[5]
Grand Union hopes to utilise the same new build rolling stock that Grand Central plan to lease from Sovereign Trains in around 2010.
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[edit] Route
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[edit] WCML
The route would be as follows:
- London Euston
- Stockport
- Guide Bridge - there are also plans to turn this into a parkway station for the M60
- Huddersfield
- Brighouse
- Halifax
- Bradford Interchange
Grand Union may also stop trains at additional stations along the route they propose to use, if the station is large enough and has lost a direct link to London. However, they are unlikely to do so if it involves changing the train's route, as they want to maintain a journey time from Huddersfield to London of approx. 2hr20.
[edit] Doncaster-Bradford
[edit] References and notes
- ^ In the Track Access Rights application to the Office of Rail Regulation, some routes show an operating company of Grand Union Railway Ltd and others show Grand Northern Railway Ltd. As at June 2008 it is unclear which brand name(s) will be used if the applications are successful.
- ^ Capacity assessment relating to the East Midlands, West Midlands and Cross Country Franchises p. 5. Office of Rail Regulation.
- ^ Grand Union
- ^ Bid for 'six trains a day' to London. Telegraph & Argus (2008-01-09). Retrieved on 2008-01-10.
- ^ Track Access Rights on the East Coast Main Line. Office of Rail Regulation (2008-03-28). Retrieved on 2008-06-09.
[edit] External links
- Grand Central letter to the Office of Rail Regulation - includes Grand Union proposal.
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