Arriva acquires open access operator Grand Central Railway

Arriva plc has confirmed it has acquired UK open access operatorGrand Central Railway which runs passenger train services betweenSunderland and London, and between Bradford/Halifax and London.

The acquisition, for an undisclosed amount, adds toArriva’s UK Trains portfolio of the CrossCountry, ArrivaTrains Wales and Chiltern Railways franchises, and concessions tooperate the Tyne and Wear Metro and (as a joint venture) LondonOverground operations.

Grand Central is an open access operator, it does not receivesubsidy from, or pay any premium to the Department for Transport.It operates four direct services between Sunderland and LondonKings Cross daily, and three direct services betweenBradford/Halifax and London Kings Cross. It provides approximately700,000 passenger journeys a year.

Bob Holland, Arriva UK Trains managing director, said: “Wefirmly believe open access will play a valuable part of a balancedportfolio for our UK Trains division alongside our three franchisesand concessions operated on London Overground and the Tyne and WearMetro.

“Bringing Grand Central on board means we have a live openaccess operation up and running, one which is popular withcustomers and which we believe we can develop to become a keycommercial part of our UK rail operations.”