First Hull Trains

First Hull Trains

Overview
Franchise(s):	Open-access operator Not subject to franchising 25 September 2000 - December 2019
Main route(s):	Hull - London
Other route(s):	Beverley - London
Fleet size:	4 Class 180 Adelantes
Stations called at:	10
Stations operated:	0
National Rail abbreviation:	HT
Parent company:	FirstGroup
Web site:	www.hulltrains.co.uk
Route map

First Hull Trains Route
Legend
Beverley Hull Paragon Brough Howden Selby Doncaster Retford Grantham Stevenage London Kings Cross
[1]

First Hull Trains^[2] (formerly Hull Trains) is an open-access operator in the United Kingdom owned by FirstGroup and two former British Rail managers.^[3] It operates seven long-distance services between Hull/Beverley and London King's Cross. It has a track-access agreement until December 2019.

History

Previously there had been only one through train per day each way between Hull and London. The idea of running more frequent through trains on the route was conceived by former British Rail managers, Mike Jones and John Nelson, through their Renaissance Trains business. Each took a 10% shareholding in Hull Trains with GB Railways the remaining 80%. This structure remains in place, albeit with First having acquired GB Railways' share when it purchased the company in August 2003.^[4][5]

In 2000 Hull Trains was granted a four-year track-access agreement by the Office of Rail Regulation, and operations started on 25 September 2000.^[6] In June 2002 it was awarded access rights for ten years.^[7] In June 2008 Hull Trains was rebranded as First Hull Trains, adopting First's corporate blue, pink and white colours.^[8] In January 2009 the access rights were extended to December 2014,^[9] and in February 2010 was further extended to December 2016.^[10] It has since been extended until December 2019.^[11]

Services

First Hull Trains operates up to six daily return services between Hull and London King's Cross on weekdays and a daily weekday service between Beverley and Kings Cross. On weekends there is seven daily services between Hull and Kings Cross only.

Hull Trains commenced running three services per day on 25 September 2000. In 2002 a fourth daily service commenced, in May 2004 a fifth,^[12] in 2005 a sixth, and later a seventh.

On 4 February 2015, one weekday service was extended from Hull to Beverley in each direction.^[13]

Performance

Official performance figures for First Hull Trains released by the ORR for the second quarter of the financial year 2010/11 are 83.6% PPM and 85.9% MAA.^[14] These figures are both up on those of last quarter and the last twelve months respectively.

In July 2011 First Hull Trains was recognised as one of the highest-rated rail operators in the UK, with 95% of passengers rating the service good. However, in the same month the company was plagued with yet more Class 180 problems, forcing it to run a much-reduced timetable and make a public apology.^[15]

In February 2015 First Hull Trains again achieved one of the highest scores in Which? magazine's Best and worst UK train companies survey, with a 69% customer satisfaction score. This was beaten only by Grand Central Railway (with a 76% customer score). First Hull Trains was also awarded two 5/5 star ratings (in the Reliability and Punctuality categories), the only UK train operator to achieve a 5/5 star rating. First Hull Trains also scored 4/5 stars in the remaining four categories.^[16]

Expansion proposals

In 2008 First Hull Trains revealed that it was applying for track access rights to run services between Harrogate and London King's Cross via York under the First Harrogate Trains banner and from Cleethorpes to King's Cross to via Lincoln and Spalding.^[17] In January 2009, the Office of Rail Regulation released its decisions on the ECML route planning and rejected First Harrogate Trains' application.

Rolling stock

Hull Trains commenced operations with three-carriage Class 170 Turbostars hired from sister GB Railways company Anglia Railways. There was at least one occasion of an Anglia Railways Class 86 and Mark 2 set operating as far as Doncaster.^[18]

With the Strategic Rail Authority changing its policy on allowing TOC assets to be hired out, Hull Trains needed to acquire its own fleet. It ordered four three-carriage Class 170 Turbostars the first entering service in March 2004. These were only intended as an interim solution as four four-carriage Class 222 Pioneers were ordered at the same time, but because the former were part of a speculative order already placed by Porterbrook they would be available in time.^[19][20]

Hull Trains Class 170 Turbostars entered service in April 2004. It was planned that after being replaced, they would then be used on new services, but this didn't eventuate so they were transferred to First ScotRail.^[21] The Class 222 Pioneers entered service from May 2005.^[22]

In January 2007 a Class 222 Pioneer was damaged when it was dropped off a maintenance jack and would ultimately take two years to repair. After making do with only three trains, in early 2008 a Class 86 was hired from the AC Locomotive Group to haul a set of Mark 3s hired from Cargo-D on weekend King's Cross to Doncaster services.^[23]

In April 2008 two Class 180 Adelantes were leased to replace the locomotive hauled set and allow a maintenance backlog that accrued on the Class 222 Pioneers to be cleared.^[24] Later in 2008 another two were leased to release the Class 222 Pioneers for transfer to East Midlands Trains in 2009.^[25]

These trains helped First Hull Trains gain more capacity by an extra carriage, however when the units first arrived, they were plagued by technical difficulties, and a string of poor reliability for the company soon followed. However, First Hull Trains has improved reliability dramatically since introduction.

The units have also been given a refresh internally with new seat covers and a deep clean. New catering facilities for first class have also been provided, and externally the units have been repainted in First Group's neon blue livery.

In the Class 180s, Coach A is the quiet coach where mobile phones and personal music devices are not allowed, Coach B is standard class including the buffet/shop, Coach C is standard seating, Coach D is first class, and Coach E contains airline-style seating and wheelchair accommodation.

Current fleet

Class	Image	Type	Top speed		Number	Routes operated	Built
			mph	km/h
Class 180 Adelante		diesel multiple unit	125	200	4	Hull - London King's Cross	2000-2001

Past fleet

Class	Image	Type	Built	Number	Withdrawn	Notes
Class 170 Turbostar		diesel multiple unit	1999–2004	4	2005	Replaced by Class 222 Pioneer and transferred to First ScotRail
Class 222 Pioneer		diesel multiple unit	2005	4	2009	Replaced by Class 180 Adelante. Class 222s transferred to East Midlands Trains, locomotive hauled stock stored.
Class 86		Electric locomotive	1965–1966	1	2008
Mark 3 Carriage		Passenger Carriage	1975–1988	5	2008
		Driving Van Trailer	1988	1	2008

Depots

Maintenance of the Class 180 Adelantes is undertaken at Old Oak Common Depot alongside First Great Western's fleet. Two sets (or occasionally three if there are no sets on maintenance) are stabled and serviced each night in Hull sidings by FHT staff (where there are usually two fitters on at night to undertake basic fault repair and diagnostics) with fuelling and CET being undertaken at Northern Rail's Botanic Gardens Depot. The third service set is stabled at either Bounds Green or Old Oak Common as service requirements dictate. A day fitter is based at Hull. Previously much of this work was undertaken by Bombardier at Crofton and only one set left in Hull each night.

Notes

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to First Hull Trains.

• First Hull Trains website
• Renaissance Trains website

Current train operating companies in the United Kingdom ◄ Defunct Future ► National Abellio Greater Anglia Arriva Trains Wales c2c Caledonian Sleeper Chiltern Railways CrossCountry East Midlands Trains First Great Western First Hull Trains First TransPennine Express Govia Thameslink Railway Grand Central Heathrow Connect Heathrow Express London Midland London Overground Merseyrail NI Railways1 Northern Rail ScotRail Southeastern Southern South West Trains Virgin Trains Virgin Trains East Coast International Enterprise1 Eurostar Sub-brands Gatwick Express Great Northern Island Line Trains Night Riviera Stansted Express Thameslink 1Operates on the Irish railway network

FirstGroup United Kingdom bus companies First Aberdeen First Berkshire & The Thames Valley First Bristol First Cymru First Devon & Cornwall First Essex First Glasgow First Greater Manchester First Hampshire & Dorset First Midlands First Leicester (94%) First Midland Red First Potteries First Norfolk & Suffolk First Scotland East First Somerset & Avon The Buses of Somerset First South Yorkshire First West Yorkshire First Bradford First Calderdale & Huddersfield First Leeds First York First Student UK Greyhound UK International bus companies America First Student (United States) First Student Canada First Transit Greyhound (United States) BoltBus (with Peter Pan Bus Lines) Greyhound Canada Greyhound Mexico Grey Goose Bus Lines Vancouver Island Coach Lines Voyageur Colonial Bus Lines Ireland Aircoach Railway companies First Great Western First Hull Trains (80%) First TransPennine Express (55% with Keolis) Heathrow Connect (with Heathrow Airport Holdings) Former divisions DSBFirst (25% Danish, 30% Swedish with DSB) First Capital Connect First Chester & The Wirral First Great Eastern First Great Western Link First London First Northampton First North Western First ScotRail New World First Bus (26%)