Latest news with #PaulHutchings
Daily Mirror
03-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
UK seaside resort's new 293-mile train line linking two cities and major airport
If approved, the ambitious project which will also stop at Gatwick Airport, could see its first trains running by December 2026 A new direct rail service aims to reshape long-distance travel between two of the UK's most iconic cities — Brighton and Newcastle. Spearheaded by the Arriva Group under its Grand Central brand — which also runs services connecting Sunderland and Bradford with King's Cross in London — the proposal is currently under review by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR). Current train routes between Brighton and Newcastle typically require passengers to change in London. The proposed service would eliminate this need, offering a seamless, direct connection that links not only these two cities, but also a host of towns and transport hubs along the way. The full planned calling pattern of the route is: Newcastle, Durham, Darlington, Northallerton, York, Doncaster, Sheffield, Derby, Burton-on-Trent, Birmingham New Street, Warwick Parkway, Banbury, Oxford, Reading, Wokingham, Guildford, Redhill, Gatwick Airport, Haywards Heath and Brighton. The new service aims to operate five trains per day in both directions, with each accommodating up to 300 passengers, as well as luggage space for airport travellers, onboard catering, Wi-Fi and charging points. Enhanced connectivity will directly link underserved towns and cities with major hubs like Gatwick Airport and the South Coast, opening up new opportunities for employment, education and tourism. Improved rail links are known to stimulate local economies, making it easier for people to access jobs and businesses to reach new markets. The direct connection to Gatwick Airport is particularly significant for communities in the Midlands and North East, offering a convenient, lower-carbon alternative to driving to London for international travel. Arriva Group's proposal is part of a wider European strategy to promote sustainable transport and regional integration. The company has recently invested around £300 million in a new battery-hybrid train fleet for its existing routes, underlining its commitment to innovation and environmental responsibility. The plans are part of a broader commitment to "strengthening regional connectivity and making better use of available rail capacity', Arriva Group said. Managing Director of Arriva UK Trains' Rail Services, Paul Hutchings, said: 'We're committed to connecting communities and enabling more people to travel in ways that are convenient and sustainable, so we're very pleased to be submitting this application for the first direct service between Newcastle and Brighton, opening up new travel opportunities and making better use of available network capacity – all while building on Grand Central's proud history of connecting traditionally underserved communities. 'This is an exciting time for Grand Central's growth story and follows the extension of our existing access rights to 2038 as well as the recent announcement of an investment of around £300 million in a new battery hybrid train fleet for our existing routes, further underlining our commitment and ambition for rail in the UK.' He added: "We're very pleased to be submitting this application for the first direct service between Newcastle and Brighton, opening up new travel opportunities and making better use of available network capacity" Chief Commercial Officer of Gatwick Airport, Jonathan Pollard, added: "We welcome Arriva's exploration of a regular service between Gatwick, the Midlands and North East. Gatwick is keen to encourage passengers to use public transport and this enhanced connectivity would support underserved areas, while strengthening and growing our catchment." The proposal is awaiting regulatory approval from the ORR. If approved, the Newcastle-Brighton service could see its first trains running by December 2026. Not only would it provide a vital new north-south connection, but also make cross-country rail travel more accessible, sustainable and attractive for generations to come.
Daily Mirror
01-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
New train route to link one of UK's best seaside towns with major northern city
Aviva Grand Central has announced plans for a new service that would link up Newcastle and Brighton for the first time. It is likely to be up and running from December 2026 A new train route would directly link two cities at opposite ends of the country. Aviva Grand Central has announced plans for a new service that would link up Newcastle and Brighton for the first time. The new railway journey would directly connect the south coast with the northeast, travelling via Birmingham, York and London Gatwick. It would mean that travellers would no longer need to change trains in London, saving time and effort for those fancying a trip north or south. Arriva's Grand Central brand has submitted an application to the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) for permission to start the new service. Although the travel time hasn't been revealed yet, the current average journey time from Brighton to Newcastle is four hours and 20 minutes. It is likely that the trip would be quicker without a stop in the middle. If the request is approved, then the service is likely to be up and running five times a day in each direction from December next year. READ MORE: World's biggest plane 'Skytanic' is longer than a football pitch and will take-off in 2030 Here's the full list of proposed stops for the route. Newcastle Durham Darlington Northallerton York Doncaster Sheffield Derby Burton-on-Trent Birmingham New Street Warwick Parkway Banbury Oxford Reading Wokingham Guildford Redhill London Gatwick Haywards Heath Brighton Paul Hutchings, managing director of Arriva UK Trains' rail services, said: "We're committed to connecting communities and enabling more people to travel in ways that are convenient and sustainable, so we're very pleased to be submitting this application for the first direct service between Newcastle and Brighton, opening up new travel opportunities and making better use of available network capacity – all while building on Grand Central's proud history of connecting traditionally underserved communities." Each of the new trains will have capacity for 300 passengers, including luggage space for airport travellers, in addition to on-board catering, wi-fi and charging points. There is plenty for Geordies visiting Brighton to look forward to, and vice versa. Check out our guides to both cities, which include a rundown of the best things to do in both. The new route will also provide a direct train link to Gatwick for towns in the North East and Midlands such as Northallerton, Warwick and Burton-on-Trent. That means an extended list of destinations abroad for those customers to choose from. Jonathan Pollard, chief commercial officer of Gatwick Airport, said: 'We welcome Arriva's exploration of a regular service between London Gatwick, the Midlands and North East, and are excited about the opportunities this proposed service could bring. "London Gatwick is keen to encourage passengers to use public transport and this enhanced connectivity would support underserved areas, while strengthening and growing our catchment. London Gatwick already boasts an extensive network supported by strong relationships with transport providers, making the airport the best connected in the UK by public transport." Grand Central currently runs services connecting Sunderland and Bradford with London King's Cross. The Sunderland service runs via Hartlepool, Eaglescliffe, Northallerton, Thirsk, York and Peterborough.
Metro
30-04-2025
- Business
- Metro
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. Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here. 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. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: Major UK city faces travel disruption after power cut suspends all trams MORE: Full list of cancelled flights after power outage plunges Spain and Portugal into darkness MORE: Family dies after 'generator powering respirator breaks' during Spain and Portugal blackouts
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Plans for new direct train services to London
Plans to restore direct rail services between northern Lincolnshire and London have been put forward to Network Rail, a train operator has said. Grand Central said it was seeking permission to run services from Cleethorpes, Grimsby, Habrough and Scunthorpe. The proposed new stops would connect to existing Grand Central services at Doncaster, the firm said. If the application was approved by the rail regulator, the new timetable would run from as early as December 2026, it added. Grand Central said the extended route would have four new return services per day and over 775,000 additional seats annually made available between Cleethorpes, Grimsby and London's Kings Cross. Paul Hutchings, managing director responsible for Grand Central, said: "If approved, these services will play a pivotal role in driving regional growth by linking underserved communities to key commercial opportunities, benefiting both local businesses and passengers." Melanie Onn, Labour MP for Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes, said there had been a campaign to try and reestablish the direct service for many years. "This isn't just about attracting future investment into our town, it's about addressing missed economic and social opportunities due to current poor connectivity," she said. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Government urged to prioritise direct rail link Cleethorpes-London service faces further delay
