The first direct passenger train from Wearside to London for almost 20 years left Sunderland at 06.46 hrs, reaching Kings Cross 6 minutes earlier than its timetabled 10.32 hrs. It returns at 16.50 hrs from the capital, and is scheduled to reach Sunderland at 20.35 hrs.
Until the delivery of its remaining fleet of passenger vehicles, an interim weekday timetable will then commence, with a daily departures (Monday to Saturday) from Sunderland for London at 06.46, returning from Kings Cross at 16.50. There will also be a service at 11.27 from Kings Cross to York (arr. 13.19), returning from York at 14.10 (arriving in London at 16.05).
Due to engineering work on the East Coast Main Line over the Christmas period, Grand Central services will not operate on 23/24/25/26 December. Services will resume on 27 December, with a 12.30 hrs service from Sunderland to London and the full service of three trains per day in each direction is expected to be launched in the second half of January.
All Grand Central’s Sunderland to London services will call at Hartlepool, Eaglescliffe (for Teesside), Northallerton, Thirsk and York. After the Christmas/New Year holiday period, they will all feature a full restaurant service, open to both first and standard class passengers. Free wi-fi connection throughout the train will be fitted in January.
The new Grand Central services will open up new journey opportunities to the capital for passengers from Sunderland, Hartlepool, Teesside and York, and providing an opportunity for business and leisure travellers from the South East to make direct journeys to the Tees Valley and Wearside.
Tom Clift, Managing Director of Grand Central Railway Company, comments:
“Our team has worked extremely hard to reach the point where we are at last able to offer our first scheduled passenger services. I would like to thank them for their hard work and commitment and also to thank all our potential passengers for their forbearance, and for the many messages of support we have received in recent weeks.
“After the regrettable delays caused by late delivery of our rolling stock fleet, following its refurbishment, I am confident that we will now be able to provide the service which people in Wearside, Teesside and North Yorkshire have been patiently awaiting.”
Further details available direct from Grand Central Website
