Fears of a further delay for rail link
Nov 16 2007 by Chris Knox, The Journal
TICKETS for the much-delayed Grand Central train service have yet to go on sale as the firm is worried it will not be able to meet a new December deadline.
The York company is aiming to commence operations next month after a recent successful trial run of one of its trains from Sunderland to London’s Kings Cross.
But with two weeks to go to the planned start date, the company has admitted it is not taking any bookings for fear of mis-selling tickets to its customers amid further uncertainties about whether its trains will pass further inspection by Northern Rail and its suppliers.
Ian Yeowart, business development director at the company, said: “We have all the rolling stock in place and are confident that December is a realistic target. However, nothing is for certain and, as always, things are out of our hands.”
The company, which hopes to challenge GNER’s dominant position on the East Coast mainline, has been hit by a series of high-profile setbacks since winning the contract from the rail regulator in July last year.
It had hoped to start running last December, but plans were derailed after it experienced problems leasing trains.
After spending £1m to secure 18 carriages and three sets of 30-year-old engines, the company then failed to meet its agreed May deadline earlier this year, blaming problems such as ordering incorrect seat fabric and hold-ups in the provision of key parts from manufacturers.
The series of delays has affected confidence in the Wearside business community, with many worried about the short-term future of the project.
But despite the many problems that have hit the company, Grand Central’s managing director Tom Clift remains optimistic following the trial run.
He said: “After all the much-publicised delays we have suffered through the late delivery of our rolling stock fleet, we are all delighted that this major psychological and practical barrier has been overcome by getting our train to King’s Cross.
“It has been important for us to demonstrate our credibility and give confidence that we will be able to provide the service which people in Wearside, Teesside and North Yorkshire have been patiently awaiting.”
