Bradford-Euston service proposed
15 August 2008
Grand Northern Railway, an affiliate of London-Sunderland operator Grand Central, has applied to the Office of Rail Regulation for approval for a new open access service between Bradford and London Euston via Stockport and the West Coast main line.
It is proposing to operate six daily return services on the route on weekdays and four daily return services at weekends, with the following stopping pattern: Bradford Interchange; Halifax; Brighouse; Huddersfield; Stalybridge (or possibly Guide Bridge); Stockport (set down only southbound, pick up only northbound); Alderley Edge; London Euston.
Even though most of the 14 sets have been allocated to other operators (p104), Grand Northern still proposes to operate the services using single five-car Class 180 DMUs.
Despite confidence that paths can be found for non-tilting trains, which would be restricted to 110mph on the congested West Coast main line, and that its calling pattern does not affect Virgin Trains¹ Moderation of Competition protection, the proposal has seen significant levels of objection from other passenger and freight operators, many of whom point to the poor standard of the application and numerous flaws in it. There has also been a very strong objection from the Department for Transport. Tony Miles
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