Yet more rail capacity could be added to the voluminous Anglo-Scottish rail market.
Grand Union, a prospective open access rail company, seeks permission to run trains from Stirling to London Euston via the West Coast Mainline (WCML) reports Rail Business UK (registration required).
UK: Grand Union submits modified Stirling – London open access plan, proposing to use rakes of nine MkIV coaches and a DVT powered by Stadler Class 93 tri-mode locomotives https://t.co/kPnseOIYsY
— Rail Business UK (@RailBusinessUK) June 23, 2021
Right now the only direct Stirling-London service is operated by LNER over the East Coast Mainline (ECML) to London King’s Cross.
On the main Anglo-Scottish routes from London we see LNER taking the ECML with Avanti West Coast taking the WCML.
However note that open access First Group is preparing to compete against LNER with a new and budget product.
Grand Union says it wishes to operate four off-peak trains a day Monday to Saturday with three on a Sunday. These would comprise first and standard class accommodation.
One imagines there would be a price advantage over the present incumbents not least because journey times would take longer.
Both rolling stock and locomotives would date from the British Rail era.
Trains would be multi-stop with calling points to include Larbert, Greenfaulds, Whifflet, Motherwell, Lockerbie, Carlisle, Preston, Crewe, Nuneaton and Milton Keynes.
If approved Grand Union would hope to start the service at the end of 2022.
Previously Grand Union had intended to operate a Cardiff-London Paddington service but its bid was rejected. It must be hoping its latest venture will succeed.
