Grand Central to lease five more 180s from 2017

[jopsuk]

Grand Central are to heavily refurbish their 180 fleet, gain the 180s currently at First Great Western and get rid of their HST fleet from 2017

They're also investing in station improvements

£7.8m investments are just the ticket
Grand Central plans substantial capital investments
Announcement follows its extended track access agreement, which will see its trains operating until 2026

Grand Central Rail has today revealed planned £7.8m worth of investments to improve the reliability, capacity and comfort of its services over the next 12 years.

Following the extension of its operating licence, which gives the company the permission to run trains between London, the North East and Yorkshire until 2026, Grand Central will invest significantly in the comfort and reliability of its fleet of trains as well as passenger facilities at stations.

Richard McClean, Managing Director of Grand Central Rail, said: “We’ve listened to our passengers and the investments we’re making will improve the reliability of services as well as the comfort and reliability of our on-board facilities. We’re starting our investments early to get a head start on improvements for passengers, with a refurbishment to our current fleet due to begin in early 2015. Our entire fleet will be brought up to a new high standard, with leather seats in First Class and improvements across the Standard class carriages, toilets and vestibules.

“We’ll also switch to using LED lighting on board which, as well as being better for the environment, will improve the reliability of power sockets for charging mobile phones and laptops. Our on-board Wi-Fi will also remain free for all passengers in both Standard and First Class and we’re already making improvements to the usability and speed of the Wi-Fi connection.”

Grand Central Rail has signed a lease with Angel Trains for a further five Class 180 trains which, along with the company’s existing five Class 180 services will be seen on the rails from 2017. Having two additional trains in the fleet – a 25% increase on current arrangements - will allow Grand Central Rail to be more robust and flexible in terms of train maintenance and capacity. Following a refurbishment of the fleet, Grand Central will work with Network Rail with the aim of increasing the number of seats available on its busiest services. ..

Grand Central Rail has also pledged capital investment to improve passenger facilities at stations on its route.

Richard McClean said: “We want to build on our previous station investments, including the rescue of Wakefield Kirkgate station and increasing the capacity at Northallerton Station car park, by working with Network Rail, local authorities and station facility owners to make further improvements at the stations we serve.

‘We’ll invest to increase car parking capacity and passenger facilities, as well as working with public transport providers to improve the journeys to and from stations where we can, making it easier for passengers to get to and from the train. The communities along our routes are at the heart of our business and we have therefore ensured that our investment goes beyond our fleet and right out into those communities for the benefit of local passengers.”

Grand Central Rail’s award-winning Station Ambassador programme will also be rolled out to additional stations in Yorkshire.

Sean English, Chief Operating Officer at Grand Central Rail, said: “Grand Central Station Ambassadors work on Sundays, when stations are traditionally unstaffed and the majority of rail engineering work takes place. Currently, Station Ambassadors at Hartlepool, Eaglescliffe and Brighouse Stations answer passenger queries and provide a friendly welcome to the town for visitors, as well as improving operational safety and efficiency at the station.

“We’re delighted to be introducing Ambassadors to Mirfield Station during 2015 and hope to include Thirsk Station in the near future.”

The Office of Rail Regulation agreed a ten-year licence extension to Grand Central’s original operating agreement in august 2014, giving the company the right to run trains between the North East, West Yorkshire and London until 2026.

ENDS


Notes to editors

1. Grand Central Railway Company Limited operates West Riding services between Bradford Interchange, Halifax, Brighouse, Mirfield, Pontefract Monkhill, Wakefield Kirkgate, Doncaster and London King’s Cross and North East services between Sunderland, Hartlepool, Eaglescliffe, Northallerton, Thirsk, York and London Kings Cross.

2. Investment in Fleet.
We have signed a lease with Angel Trains for five Class 180 trains (from 2017). This will give Grand Central Rail a fleet of 10 Class 180 trains – an increase of two on the eight trains currently in the Fleet. This will increase capacity by 25% overall and gives the company the flexibility to double the capacity on busiest services by joining two trains together to run longer trains, subject to industry approvals.
Having a common Fleet made up Class 180’s will give Grand Central Rail the opportunity to enter a world-class maintenance programme with Alstom, improving reliability of air con, availability of parts and improved flexibility when it comes to maintenance, leading to less down time and pressure on the fleet.

3. Station investments
Over the next twelve years, Grand Central Rail will work closely with station facility owners to make improvements for passengers at the stations we call at.

 

[swt_passenger]

Hopefully people will now stop proposing the FGW 180s for various random uses on lines such as Portsmouth to Cardiff.

GC taking them by 2017 (during IEP introduction) has been reasonably well known for a year or so, it was the only practical means of achieving what was shown in the GC track access application, which was signed off by ORR a few weeks ago.

 

[323235]

Are all the HST fleets getting scrapped after removal from EC,FGW and GC (with the exception of any preservation plans) ?

 

[rebmcr]

Are all the HST fleets getting scrapped after removal from EC,FGW and GC (with the exception of any preservation plans) ?

That's the plan as they're getting pretty old now. FGW won't be removing all of them for some time yet, as they'll retain some for Cornwall services.

 

[a good off]

Just because they're old doesn't make them broken. Its always a massive surprise if FGW have a full compliment of 180s at the morning start up. Good riddance.

 

[XCTurbostar]

That will mean that Grand Central will lease 10 of the 14 made.

This seems like the right thing the do with grand central then having a standard fleet of units with a high (probably not) running time.

Having said that, the HSTs were never destined to stay with Grand Central and its been pretty well known that they preferred the Class 180s over the HSTs (I'll be sad to see them go)

Thanks,
Ross

 

[WatcherZero]

I think this is old news, didnt GC say they were going HST some time ago?

At the moment everyone who actually operates HST's is trying to get rid of them.

 

[HowardGWR]

Just because they're old doesn't make them broken. Its always a massive surprise if FGW have a full compliment of 180s at the morning start up. Good riddance.

If the 180 is so bad, why would GC want them?

On the HSTs, if Chiltern can make a good fist of updating their stock, why can't the others? Automatic doors and dealing with loos are the main things required, surely?

 

[swt_passenger]

I think this is old news, didnt GC say they were going HST some time ago?

You meant to write 'going all 180' though, surely?

But quite correct, it has been in the public domain since just over a year ago, when they raised it in their extended track access application. We discussed it in this thread in late August 2013:

Grand Central have applied to replace their existing track access agreements with a single new one for an additional 10 years. The application includes operating with a uniform fleet, expected to be 180s and refurbishment to existing 180s to improve reliability with the investment to be rolled out in 2016/17.

Their reasoning is that it will allow more flexible deployment of their fleet, more robust timetabling, fits better with a recast ECML timetable post IEP and removes the need for HSTs to be fitted with ERTMS.

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=88860

 

[WatcherZero]

Sorry typo, ommitted 'free' from the sentence.

 

[jopsuk]

This is the confirmation of that- i.e., it's gone from "expected" to "contracts have been signed"

 

[47802]

If the 180 is so bad, why would GC want them?

On the HSTs, if Chiltern can make a good fist of updating their stock, why can't the others? Automatic doors and dealing with loos are the main things required, surely?

Probably because despite some on here who seem to think they should go on another 20 years or so, some operators who actually run the trains seem to think otherwise, updating HST's will require some cost, they are probably more expensive to operate that 180's especially in a 2+5 or 6 formation and that cost may well go up as they get older, and while the 180's may not be the best they are the only fairly modern 125mph they can realistically get hold of in the near future.

Perhaps also they will be looking to work some services in pairs over at least parts of the route.

 

[Buttsy]

Probably because despite some on here who seem to think they should go on another 20 years or so, some operators who actually run the trains seem to think otherwise, updating HST's will require some cost, they are probably more expensive to operate that 180's especially in a 2+5 or 6 formation and that cost may well go up as they get older, and while the 180's may not be the best they are the only fairly modern 125mph they can realistically get hold of in the near future.

Perhaps also they will be looking to work some services in pairs over at least parts of the route.

Or perhaps disbanding one unit and making 3 6-car and one 2 car (for random attaching to other 5 cars as required by loadings).

 

[swt_passenger]

Perhaps also they will be looking to work some services in pairs over at least parts of the route.

That's exactly what they say, towards the end of the press release under 'notes for editors' at para 2...

 

[wensley]

Or perhaps disbanding one unit and making 3 6-car and one 2 car (for random attaching to other 5 cars as required by loadings).

The TMS on a 180 would make that nigh on impossible ... nice as the prospect of 8-car 180s would be with some shorter 4-car sets or similar!!

HSTs have done a sterling job for almost 40 years, but they are old trains now and will become more and more expensive the longer they remain in traffic. With the right attention it has been proven that the Class 180s can be a reliable high speed DMU and having a common fleet offers various benefits in terms of maintenance, operational flexibility and suchlike. It will be a real shame to see the HSTs leave traffic with their respective operators and there may be the possibility for them to find work elsewhere on the network if a TOC can make the numbers stack up.

 

[gazthomas]

What happened to all those Chinese units they were going to use?! In my view hybrid units (IEP!) would be appropriate for their servicea

 

[rebmcr]

That will mean that Grand Central will lease 10 of the 14 made.

Plus if Hull gets electrified and takes on IEPs (as is rumoured), it would seem fairly likely that the fleet becomes reunified.

 

[jopsuk]

That, or (UNFOUNDED RUMOUR THAT I'M JUST STARTING, DON'T TAKE THIS AS IN ANY WAY BASED IN REALITY) GC to buy Hull Trains, unify the fleet that way?

 

[ainsworth74]

That, or (UNFOUNDED RUMOUR THAT I'M JUST STARTING, DON'T TAKE THIS AS IN ANY WAY BASED IN REALITY) GC to buy Hull Trains, unify the fleet that way?

Would First Group wish to sell!? As far as I'm aware HT is a profitable enterprise unlike GC.

Plus if Hull gets electrified and takes on IEPs (as is rumoured), it would seem fairly likely that the fleet becomes reunified.

Actually that rumour has now changed to Pendolino's (note: not 390s but Pendolino as in the train family). I would suggest all bets are off until some contracts are inked

 

[yorkie]

If the 180 is so bad, why would GC want them?

What viable alternative is there?

What happened to all those Chinese units they were going to use?!

Good luck with the business case for a new, tiny fleet of 125mph diesel units!

 

[IanXC]

Would First Group wish to sell!? As far as I'm aware HT is a profitable enterprise unlike GC.



Actually that rumour has now changed to Pendolino's (note: not 390s but Pendolino as in the train family). I would suggest all bets are off until some contracts are inked

Indeed on both counts. In terms of the HT 180s (assuming they're released) I can well see them joining GC for their proposed further ECML services - such as Cleethorpes.

 

[wensley]

Indeed on both counts. In terms of the HT 180s (assuming they're released) I can well see them joining GC for their proposed further ECML services - such as Cleethorpes.

I wasn't aware of any further plans for GC to expand their routes served...

 

[SpacePhoenix]

What sort of % of spare parts, etc of HSTs are no longer "standard" parts? My gut feeling is that many parts of HSTs will have to be custom ordered each time they get replaced

 

[wensley]

What sort of % of spare parts, etc of HSTs are no longer "standard" parts? My gut feeling is that many parts of HSTs will have to be custom ordered each time they get replaced

It's a large fleet so a suitably large pool of spares tends to be available to the best of my knowledge. That doesn't mean the parts are cheap but they are generally more readily available than components for 180s - a small fleet with a small spares pool shared between three operators.

 

[IanXC]

I wasn't aware of any further plans for GC to expand their routes served...

See: http://www.alliancerail.co.uk/gner/

Now that both firms are owned by Arriva, its widely understood that Alliance secure the rights, and Grand Central operate them.

 

[RochdalePioneers]

Rode a GC 180 from Kings Cross to Doncaster last week. Appalling bouncy ride....

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

 

[sprinterguy]

Rode a GC 180 from Kings Cross to Doncaster last week. Appalling bouncy ride....

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

That’s strange, as I’ve always thought that the GC 180s have a very good ride. Certainly superior to the comparable Voyagers, and, for that matter, GCs’ HSTs. Always possible to get a bad one, I suppose though.

 

[Tetchytyke]

Would First Group wish to sell!? As far as I'm aware HT is a profitable enterprise unlike GC.

Given the rate at which First Group are losing franchises, soon enough Hull Trains could be the only rail company they still own. I can't see First Group selling up to Deutsche Bahn, but stranger things have happened.

 

[theblackwatch]

HSTs have done a sterling job for almost 40 years, but they are old trains now and will become more and more expensive the longer they remain in traffic. With the right attention it has been proven that the Class 180s can be a reliable high speed DMU and having a common fleet offers various benefits in terms of maintenance, operational flexibility and suchlike. It will be a real shame to see the HSTs leave traffic with their respective operators and there may be the possibility for them to find work elsewhere on the network if a TOC can make the numbers stack up.

I suspect these HSTs will see further use 'up north' with the new ScotRail franchise.

 

[87019Chris]

Rode a GC 180 from Kings Cross to Doncaster last week. Appalling bouncy ride....

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

Yeah usually the ride is nice but I found that it was bouncy on the same journey, not sure if it is just one unit or something else?