Arriva’s Grand Central bids to launch innovative Manchester–London rail service, connecting underserved communities

Arriva’s open access operator, Grand Central, has today submitted an application to the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) to launch a new direct rail service between Manchester Piccadilly and London St Pancras, opening up new connections for underserved communities and giving passengers greater choice in how they travel.

The proposed service would provide five trains a day in each direction, connecting towns and cities across the North West, Staffordshire and the East Midlands with the capital. It would give Congleton and Uttoxeter their first direct trains to London, while creating new opportunities for travel between communities along the route.

Using an innovative approach to connecting Manchester and London, the service would make use of spare off-peak capacity on the Midland Main Line, rather than adding more trains to the busy West Coast Main Line. The proposal demonstrates how open access operators can unlock new connections and improve passenger choice by making better use of the existing railway network.

Trains would call at Stockport, Macclesfield, Congleton, Stoke-on-Trent, Uttoxeter, Derby, Loughborough, Leicester, Wellingborough and Luton Airport Parkway.

The route would also make Alton Towers Resort, one of Merlin Entertainments’ leading theme parks, more accessible by rail, serving all three stations recommended to visitors: Uttoxeter, Stoke-on-Trent and Derby. Uttoxeter – the station closest to the resort – would be just over two hours from St Pancras.

The proposal would also give Luton Airport a direct connection to the North West and Staffordshire, while restoring long-distance services to Luton Airport Parkway and Wellingborough. Passengers could also connect to Paris with a single change at St Pancras.

The proposed timetable takes account of existing platform capacity at Manchester Piccadilly and London St Pancras. Grand Central is seeking track access rights for seven years, with services planned to begin in May 2029.

Chris Brandon, Director at Grand Central, said:

“For nearly 20 years, Grand Central has demonstrated the difference direct rail connections can make to communities like Sunderland, Hartlepool and Bradford. We want to bring those same benefits to more places, giving passengers greater choice and opening up new opportunities to travel sustainably on public transport.

“This is an exciting and innovative proposal that would make better use of existing railway capacity to connect communities that have lacked direct long-distance rail links. By bringing new investment and competition to the network, at no additional cost to the taxpayer, we can deliver real benefits for passengers and the places we serve.

“We look forward to working with the ORR and Network Rail as they consider our application.”

David Pugh, External Relations Director at Merlin Entertainments – owner and operator of Alton Towers Resort – said:

"Better transport connections are vital to growing the UK's visitor economy, so we welcome Grand Central's proposal to provide direct services from both London and Manchester to Uttoxeter, the closest station to Alton Towers Resort. This popular destination attracts families from across the country. Making rail travel more convenient, alongside improved links from the station to the Resort, will help more visitors reach us without relying on a car.

"The proposal aligns with the Government's ambition to improve public transport connectivity to major visitor attractions, while delivering benefits for passengers and local communities at no additional cost to the taxpayer. We look forward to supporting Arriva and Grand Central in making the case to the Office of Rail and Road and the Department for Transport, and demonstrating the positive impact this new service could have for the visitor economy."

The application follows Arriva’s proposal for a new direct service between Newcastle and Brighton, currently under consideration by the ORR. That service would provide five trains a day in each direction, connecting the North East, Midlands and South Coast via Gatwick Airport, and restoring a direct link lost in 2008.

Grand Central has operated open access services since 2007, connecting communities across Yorkshire and the North East directly with London King’s Cross. Arriva has also committed £300 million to a new fleet of tri-mode trains for Grand Central, to be manufactured by Hitachi Rail at Newton Aycliffe in County Durham. The investment will support the operator’s plans to expand open access services and connect more communities directly with key destinations across Britain.

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About Arriva Group
Arriva is a leading provider of passenger transport across Europe, employing more than 32,000 people and delivering around 1.5 billion passenger journeys. With buses, trains, coaches, trams, bike-sharing systems, on-demand transport solutions and a rolling stock leasing company, Arriva proudly connects people and communities safely, reliably and sustainably across 11 countries, delivering these services in a better way, every day. Arriva has passenger transport operations in the Czech Republic, Croatia, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and the United Kingdom, and also operates a rolling stock leasing company in Romania.