New 'dream' train route could finally connect two major UK cities
New railway plans could see trains running from Brighton to Newcastle, connecting England's north-east with the south coast.
Arriva's Grand Central could soon launch the first direct route via London Gatwick — bypassing the rest of the capital and bringing an end to changing trains.
The train operator has submitted a bid to Network Rail, and is currently waiting for approval.
If it gets the green light, five trains will run daily in each direction, with stops at Birmingham, Oxford and Surrey, starting in December 2026.
The new route would allow travellers to get from one end of the country to the other without switching at King's Cross or Victoria stations in London.
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Each train would have capacity for 300 passengers, including luggage space for airport travellers, as well as on-board catering, Wi-Fi and charging points.
Grand Central currently runs services connecting Sunderland and Bradford with London King's Cross, but it seems its new route proposal would answer the prayers of many.
On social media, people have hailed the plans as 'brilliant' and 'amazing', saying they are 'all for it'.
One person said: 'For about five years I regularly travelled from Birmingham to Brighton and back via London… This route would have been a dream.'
'Anything at all that can relieve the unbearable pressure on the mainline Brighton to London route is welcomed by me,' @IKnowWhereImGoing added on Reddit. Would you use this new direct route?
No, I don't travel that way
One commuter said their recent journey from Brighton to Newcastle had taken 11 hours, having to take the Gatwick Express to London and then switch to a Megabus to save money. They added: 'Yes, this would be welcome.'
But some are concerned about the cost of train travel, saying the new route would likely 'cost a kidney' or more than £100. More Trending
Prices are yet to be revealed, but given the journey time from Brighton to Newcastle currently averages four hours and 20 minutes, and a nearly four hour journey one way with Grand Central costs about £66, you can get a rough idea.
Paul Hutchings, managing director of Arriva UK Trains' Rail Services, said the company is 'committed to connecting communities' and enabling 'convenient and sustainable travel'.
Gatwick Airport's chief commercial officer is hopeful the new route would encourage passengers to use public transport.
If the court of public opinion is anything to go by, it sounds promising.
Wales' answer to London's Tube has been in the works since 2013 – and more than 10 years on, 2026 looks set to be the year it all comes together.
Costing a whopping £1,000,000,000, the project is set to span 170 kilometres (105.6 miles) worth of track, introducing 36 tram-style trains across Cardiff and the wider South Wales area.
There'll be six core lines connecting the Welsh capital to the likes of Aberdare, Coryton, Merthyr, Tydfil, Rhymney and Treherbert – with all the stops along the way identified by a colour-coded map.
The connections are set to be introduced in stages, but the project has already introduced brand-new trains across sections of the South Wales network, improved accessibility by installing extra lifts and access-for-all bridges, installed bike hoops, and added extra passenger information screens to make it easier for commuters to find their train.
While the project has largely been dubbed the 'Welsh Tube,' the majority of the network is overground, with the exception of a few tunnels between the Cardiff and Caerphilly connection.
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