Grand Central has withdrawn its application to introduce direct services between Cleethorpes and London King’s Cross.
The open access operator applied in early 2025 for services which would join trains from Bradford Interchange at Doncaster.
Trains would also have stopped at Grimsby Town, Habrough, Barnetby and Scunthorpe, with Grand Central believing the service "would have delivered significant benefits for local communities and the wider regional economy".
The operator told MPs in mid-September it had expected a decision from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) by the end of April but “the time taken for the regulator to assess the application has unfortunately meant that a number of the economic factors underpinning our proposal have changed”.
Grand Central also said that rolling stock it intended to procure is now more expensive.
“We have explored all viable alternatives, but with our track access agreement running only until 2038, we have concluded that the service is unfortunately no longer commercially viable.
“This is not a decision we have taken lightly, and we have only reached this position as a very last resort. We have therefore regretfully formally notified the ORR of our decision to withdraw the application.”
Network Rail did not support the application, raising concerns about the effect joining and splitting services at Doncaster would have on East Coast Main Line (ECML) performance.
It also expressed concerns about King’s Cross platform capacity for ten-coach trains, while other operators and the Department for Transport were also opposed.
ORR said: “While opposition does not in itself mean an application takes longer to assess, the issues raised can require further evidence and consideration. In this case, there were detailed capacity, performance and wider economic issues progressing under our consideration before Grand Central withdrew its application.
“We highlighted the limited availability of capacity on the ECML in 2025, in the light of the major recast of the timetable that was implemented last December where we approved a significant number of new train services including open access.
“It follows that we must undertake detailed assessment of subsequent applications to add further services to that part of the network in order to decide them fairly. We have received a high volume of such applications for additional services.”
Other applications for the ECML include Grand Central’s plan to run from Newcastle to Brighton (which would use the route until Doncaster) and LNER’s request for its additional two-hourly Leeds-London King’s Cross service
Last week Grand Central announced it would lease the four remaining Class 180 diesel multiple units if its Newcastle-Brighton application is approved. It already operates the other ten.
Cleethorpes' last direct service to London ran in 1992. LNER had looked at extending a Lincoln service but this plan was put on hold in 2024.
tfw.wales
