Grand Central back on track

4:00pm Wednesday 23rd July 2008

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A TRAIN operator has re-launched a full service on the East Coast Mainline route from York to London, following major repairs to several power cars.

York-based Grand Central imposed a contingency timetable more than two months ago, following major component failures on four out of six of its refurbished power cars.

One of its three journeys to London and one of the three services back were temporarily scrapped, although passengers with pre-booked tickets were being accompanied by Grand Central staff on to trains operated by rival rail company National Express East Coast, and their tickets upgraded to travel on that train.

Managing director Tom Clift spoke in May of his “frustration and disappointment” at the problems, but said the company was working hard to resolve them.

Now the full three services each way have been quietly reinstated, following the completion of repairs to all but one power car.

A spokesman said that two trains were in service, with power cars at each end.

This meant that one was available to “deputise” when any of the four needed to undergo maintenance work and was also available should any more problems develop.

He said repairs to the sixth power car should be completed by the end of August, reinstating its full fleet.

He said the full service had been reinstated last Friday but without fanfare, and the company was now confident that the work undertaken would deliver a more reliable service.

Mr Clift said: “We would like to express our thanks to the people of York for bearing with us during the recent service disruption.

“We are very pleased to be able to return to a full service and look forward to working with various agencies in York to promote the city as a destination and also to encourage travel from York to Sunderland.”

Grand Central launched its service from Sunderland via York to London last December, a year later than originally intended, following difficulties obtaining the necessary rolling stock.

News that the full service is back on track is a welcome boost for the firm after The Press reported last week how the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR), an independent body which monitors health and safety on the UK’s rail network, had ordered it to improve its safety measures by September 1.

Grand Central assured customers that its trains were safe and that it was treating the matter “very seriously.”