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POLITICIANS today (Thurs) welcomed a plan to run InterCity trains from Sunderland to London up to four times a day. At a meeting of members of the Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Authority today plans by Grand Central railways to offer Wearside and east Durham commuters access to London directly were discussed. The plan was welcomed broadly in principle by the PTA subject to a more detailed business case. Joe Lawson, Vice Chair of the PTA and a Sunderland city Councillor, said: ""We welcome the proposals of Grand Central Railways to operate open access services between Sunderland, York and London via Hartlepool. Such services would fill a gap in long-distance rail services to and from Wearside, and return Sunderland to the InterCity rail network. At this stage, the proposals are supported in principle, subject to it being demonstrated that such services would operate without adversely affecting Metro and other local rail services."
Grand Central Railways had announced they are to apply to the Office of Rail Regulation for track access rights which will allow it to operate rail services between Sunderland, Teesside, York and London on a non-franchised, open access basis. Services would operate to and from Sunderland from the south via Hartlepool, and if approved could begin in December 2005.
Grand Central proposes to operate initially four trains per day in each direction starting and finishing at Sunderland station. Using surplus carriages and spare freight locomotives, they plan to offer ‘Inter City’ services at stations along the Durham Coast line.
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