Grand Union (train operating company)

Grand Union is a prospective open access operator who are proposing to operate train services in the United Kingdom from London to Wales and Scotland. Grand Union is headed by Ian Yeowart, who founded previous open access operators Alliance Rail Holdings and Grand Central before selling both to Arriva.

Grand Union
Franchise(s)Open access operator
Parent companyIan Yeowart
Other
Websitewww.granduniontrains.co.uk

Proposals

London - Wales

Grand Union is proposing to operate two-hourly services between London Paddington and Cardiff Central calling at Reading, Bristol Parkway, Severn Tunnel Junction, Newport and Cardiff Parkway. From 2023, the service would be increased to hourly and extended to Llanelli calling at: Swansea and Llanelli, with possibly a further extension to Carmarthen. In its April 2019 submission to the Office of Rail & Road, it proposed operating hourly services between London Paddington and Cardiff Central.[1][2] In July 2019, the application was withdrawn and replaced with an amended one.[3][4]

In May 2020, Grand Union withdrew the application and replaced it with a new one which saw the extended service running to Carmarthen as well as the start dates pushed back with the initial two-hourly service starting in December 2021 using Class 91’s and Mark 4’s. An extended service to Carmarthen via limited stops at Swansea and Llanelli and the delivery of new build bi-mode rolling stock in late 2023 or 2024.[5]

Grand Union proposes to operate InterCity 225s initially but later plans to use Class 802s if the service is increased to hourly and extended.[6][7]

London - Scotland

In August 2019, Grand Union lodged an application to operate four trains each way per day between London Euston and Stirling calling at Milton Keynes Central, Nuneaton, Crewe, Preston, Carlisle, Lockerbie, Motherwell, Whifflet, Greenfaulds and Larbert with InterCity 225s from May 2021.[8]

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References
  1. Open-access London - Cardiff service proposed International Railway Journal 8 April 2019
  2. Trains to London: Proposal for faster service from Cardiff BBC News 15 June 2019
  3. Trains to London: Cardiff to Paddington plan expands BBC News 19 July 2019
  4. Grand Union Trains London-Cardiff/Swansea and Llanelli Application Office of Rail & Road 10 July 2019
  5. Grand Union Trains London to Carmarthen Application 5 May 2020
  6. Cardiff - London open access plan Railway Gazette International 19 June 2019
  7. OA form Office of Rail & Road 27 March 2019
  8. Grand Union Trains London Euston to Stirling Application Office of Rail & Road 23 August 2019
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