An Extreme Day Out – Bradford Forster Square Station
It seems to be the fashion to go and visit somewhere far away in a day. So why not?
For my first trip in this vein, I decided on the spur of the moment to go to Bradford Forster Square station.
Why Did I Choose Bradford Forster Square Station?
There are three main reasons.
- A new platform has just opened at the station to handle the longest LNER trains.
- LNER are now running a seven trains per day (tpd) service via Leeds.
- I wanted to see how LNER’s walk-up ticketing performed on the route.
In addition, I wanted to see how the service performed, now that Bradford is this year’s UK City of Culture.
King’s Cross To Bradford Forster Square Station For £43.00 With A Railcard
I just missed the 11:03, so I booked the 13:03 for £43.00 with my Senior Railcard, from one of the numerous ticket machines in King’s Cross.
The train arrived on time in two hours 47 minutes for the 199.4 miles, which was an average speed of 72 mph.
In What Will Be The Fastest Times Possible Between London King’s Cross And Leeds?, I predicted this.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see with full digital signalling and a 125 mph average between London King’s Cross and Leeds.
- 125 mph Base Time – 89 minutes.
- Four Acceleration/Deceleration sections at 6 minutes each – 24 minutes.
- Three Dwell Times at 2 minutes each – 6 minutes
This would mean a total time of one hour and 59 minutes.
As my Bradford service took two hours and 28 minutes between London King’s Cross And Leeds, that would mean, that a time close to two hours and fifteen minutes could be possible between London King’s Cross and Bradford Forster Square stations.
There Weren’t Many Passengers Between Leeds And Bradford Forster Square Stations
These pictures show the nearly empty train and the small numbers, who alighted at Bradford Forster Square station.
But I don’t think three in the afternoon is a time, when many passengers will need to go between Leeds and Bradford Forster Square stations.
Bradford Forster Square Station
I described that station, with its new Platform 0 in Bradford Forster Square Station – 20th May 2025, where I said the station needed these additions.
The station needs a few additions, like a proper coffee shop, a better shop, ticket machines and toilets.
But it’s not been open very long.
Bradford Forster Square Station To King’s Cross For £25.70 With A Railcard
I bought this ticket from a Yorkshire Lass in the Ticket Office.
There Weren’t Many Passengers Between Bradford Forster Square And King’s Cross Stations
Only about a dozen passengers boarded the train at Bradford Forster Square and some got out at Leeds.
In fact the train wasn’t very busy all the way to London with perhaps twenty passengers in my carriage, when we arrived in King’s Cross.
Will This Service Develop Into A Two-Hourly London King’s Cross And Leeds Or Bradford Forster Square Service With A Trans-Yorkshire Service Tacked On?
Currently, it is the following.
- An express service between King’s Cross and Leeds with stops at Peterborough, Doncaster and Wakefield Westgate.
- An express service between King’s Cross and Bradford Forster Square with stops at Peterborough, Doncaster, Wakefield Westgate and Leeds.
- A local service between Doncaster and Bradford Forster Square with stops at Wakefield Westgate and Leeds.
- Additional calls on some services are at Stevenage, Grantham, Retford and Shipley.
In addition the following would be possible.
- Pairs of trains could split at Leeds, with one train going to Bradford Forster Square and the other train to somewhere like Harrogate, Huddersfield or Skipton.
- Additional stops could be added between Leeds and Bradford Forster Square without slowing services between Leeds and King’s Cross.
But then where does this fit with LNER buying ten CAF tri-mode trains?
Surely they would get better flexibility, if they’d bought more Azumas, which could run on the electrification all the way to Bradford Forster Square, Huddersfield and Skipton. If some had batteries, they could run all the way to Harrogate.
LNER’s Disabled-Unfriendly Refreshments System
I am not disabled, but I only have one fully-working hand, as the school bully broke my left humerus and I have difficulty doing certain things with my left hand, due to the quality of the care I received in Highlands Hospital in Winchmore Hill.
Having a left-sided stroke didn’t help either.
One of the things, I can’t do is take pictures on my mobile phone, so I always carry a proper camera. Because of the injury, I have also never read a QR code with my phone.
On LNER’s trains to get a drink, you either have to order it by reading a QR code or walking to the buffet.
As on the train going North, the buffet was closed, I went thirsty.
In future, if I have a choice of trains, I’ll choose one with a trolly service.
Are The CAF Tri-Mode Trains Part Of A Plan To Drive Open Access Operators Out Of Yorkshire?
This is possibly the only scenario that makes sense.
The ten-car tri-mode trains would be used to take over Grand Central’s services to Bradford Interchange and Sunderland, and Hull Trains services to Hull.
After Monday, LNER are now running more daily services to Bradford Forster Square, than Grand Central are to Bradford Interchange.
If like my return to London on Tuesday, you can buy a walk-up ticket on LNER, then why would you travel on Grand Central.
Conclusion
£68.70 is not a bad price for what is in effect a walk-up day return to Bradford Forster Square.
I’ve just looked how much, I would be charged for an advance ticket on Friday, using the trains I used on Tuesday.
I could get a ticket for £25.70 going North and £28.95 going South or a total of £54.65. All are with my Senior Railcard.
But it does look to me, that LNER and the Government are trying to drive Grand Central off the Bradford route.
If I am right and Hull Trains and Lumo will be next in LNER’s sights, then what was Starmer and other Government ministers doing at the launch of orders for new trains for Grand Central, Hull Trains and Lumo?
Does Innovation Get Mr. Ed Miliband Better Prices To Doncaster?
The East Coast Main Line has ticketing unlike any other in the UK.
Turn up at any LNER station to go to any station that is served by trains from that station and you will be given a choice of the best prices at the ticket machines or at the booking office.
Effectively, you are sold your choice of the cheapest Advance tickets for your journey, at the time of booking.
In the last few months, I have taken three trips from London to Doncaster. All were priced between £20 and £25, with one trip on each of Grand Central, Hull Trains and LNER.
Some might argue it is because of the three Open Access operators on the route, that good value is available. But I would argue that it is down to the fact that because of the Open Access operators there is more seats on the route.
This ticketing model should be adopted on the West Coast Main Line and the Midland Main Line.
The ticketing has certainly modified my behaviour.
If I want to go to Sheffield, I go to Doncaster, as it’s a lot cheaper, then get a local train between Doncaster and Sheffield.
Ed Miliband Is A Doncaster MP
When he is going between his Doncaster North constituency and London, does he use last minute ticketing?
FirstGroup Makes Last-Minute Open Access Plea
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Railnews.
The article is definitely worth a full read.
A little bit of competition never hurt anybody, unless they weren’t very good.
I have already decided to give Great Socialist Railways a miss, unless I have a desperate need.
Taking Pictures In Doncaster And Cleethorpes Today
My faith was restored a bit in UK railways today.
I had to go to Cleethorpes at the last minute to take some pictures for this blog.
I went with a change at Doncaster each way.
- I bought the single ticket to Doncaster from a person in King’s Cross for £28.55 on LNER.
- I bought the return ticket to Cleethorpes from a person in Doncaster for £20.55 on TransPennine Express.
- I bought the single ticket to King’s Cross from a person in Doncaster for £15.30 on Hull Trains.
I bought all tickets with my railcard on a walk up basis.
All four trains were on time.
The only problem was the weather in Cleethorpes and the pictures could have been better.
New Cut-Price Sheffield to London King’s Cross Train Service A Step Closer After Breakthrough
The title of this post, is the same as that of a story on The Star.
This is the sub-heading.
A new cut-price Sheffield to London train service has moved a step closer after a significant breakthrough.
These two paragraphs add detail to the story.
Hull Trains, which is part of FirstGroup, wants to launch a twice-daily return service between Sheffield and London King’s Cross, via Woodhouse, Worksop and Retford.
It says fares would be up to 30 per cent cheaper and the new route would provide more choice for passengers, especially for students and other people on a tighter budget.
I would assume the breakthrough is that the new East Coast Main Line timetable has been agreed.
The article confirms this.
The new East Coast Mainline timetable coming into operation later this year has been confirmed by Network Rail, making it easier to see how the new Sheffield-London trains would fit in around existing services.
Ever since I saw this proposed service, I wondered if by judicious splitting and joining at Retford, the Hull Trains services would effectively be only one ten car train on the East Coast Main Line.
Extending The Sheffield Tram-Train To Adwick
I must admit, I very much like the Class 399 tram-trains in Sheffield and their German cousins in Karlsruhe.
I am not alone, as talking to an experienced Sheffield tram driver, he said that the extra power of the Class 399 tram-trains have over the Supertrams, mean they handle Sheffield’s hills with ease, when the tram-trains are full.
They have a top speed of 62 mph compared to a British Rail Class 150 train being able to manage 75 mph.
Passenger capacity of the two trains is probably about the same.
The Current Tram-Train Service
The service has the following characteristics.
- This runs between Sheffield Cathedral and Rotherham Parkgate via Meadowhall South and Rotherham Central stations.
- Services run every thirty minutes.
- I have heard rumours that an extra stop is going to be be added at Magna Science Adventure Centre.
London Overground and local rail services in Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester and other cities in the UK, seem to run at a frequency of four trains per hour (tph).
The Current Northern Rail Service Between Sheffield And Adwick Via Doncaster
The service has the following characteristics.
- This runs between Sheffield and Aswick stations via Meadowhall, Rotherham Central, Swinton, Mexborough, Conisbrough, Doncaster and Bentley stations.
- Services run every hour.
- The service passes Rotherham Parkway Shopping Centre, but doesn’t stop.
Is there a need for this Northern Rail service to stop at Rotherham Parkway Shopping Centre?
The Current Electrification Between Sheffield And Rotherham
This OpenRailwayMap shows the electrified lines between Sheffield and Rotherham Parkway.
Note.
- Mauve tracks are electrified with 750 VDC overhead wires, so they can power Sheffield’s trams and tram-trains directly.
- Black tracks are not electrified.
- Meadowhall and its rail and tram interchange is in the South-West corner of the map.
- Note how mauve lines indicate the electrified tram tracks, that curve round the Meadowhall Shopping Centre.
- The blue arrow in the North-East corner indicates Rotherham Parkgate tram stop.
- The mauve line diagonally across the map, indicates the current electrification between Meadowhall South and Rotherham Parkgate tram stops.
- Magna Science Adventure Centre, is just to the South of the electrified Sheffield-Rotherham tram-line.
This second OpenRailwayMap shows the rail and tram lines between Sheffield and Rotherham in more detail.
Note.
- Track colours are as in the first map.
- The blue arrow in the North-East corner of the map indicates Holmes junction and is the route that Northern Rail’s current Sheffield and Adwick service takes.
- Sheffield and Rotherham Central stations are 6.1 miles apart.
- Sheffield and Adwick stations are 22.7 miles apart, but the Northern four miles between Doncaster and Adwick are electrified with 25 KVAC overhead wires.
This would indicate that a tram-train with a range of about twenty miles on battery power would be able to handle the route, if it could charge its batteries on the electrified lines.
Terminating a Sheffield And Adwick Service In Sheffield
This OpenRailwayMap shows the rail and tram lines in and through Sheffield station.
Note.
- Rail lines are in orange.
- Tram lines are in mauve.
- Platform numbers in Sheffield station are shown as blue dots. Click on the map to show it on a larger scale.
- Sheffield Cathedral tram stop is in the North-West corner of the map.
- The triangular junction in the North-East corner of the map, allows trams to use all the main tram lines that go in three directions. A touch of genius as it gives a lot of flexibility, when adding extra services.
Currently, termination of the services from Rotherham and Doncaster is as follows.
- The tram-train terminates at the Sheffield Cathedral tram stop with a frequency of two tph.
- The train terminates in Platform 3 in Sheffield station with an hourly frequency.
- As typically a terminal platform can handle 4 tph, I don’t see why a second Sheffield and Adwick service can’t be running every hour into Sheffield station.
A short length of overhead electrification would need to be added on Platform 3 to recharge any tram-trains terminating in the platform.
It could also become a tram and run to any of the other destinations served from the triangular junction; Halfway, Herdings Park or Malin Bridge. This would allow batteries to be charged as the tram-trains ran across the city.
Remember, Sheffield station is likely to be electrified with 25 KVAC overhead wires in connection with running electric trains between London St. Pancras and Sheffield.
If the four bay platforms at Sheffield station, were to be electrified, then these would be ideal for recharging any battery-electric trains or tram-trains, that terminated in the station.
Battery-Electric Trains Between Manchester And Sheffield
Consider.
- Manchester Piccadilly station is already fully electrified.
- Currently, all Manchester Piccadilly and Sheffield, terminate in Platform 8 at Sheffield station.
- The distance between the electrification at Manchester Piccadilly and Platform 8 at Sheffield station is 40.2 miles.
- CAF are promising battery-electric versions of their Class 331 trains.
With a battery range of fifty miles, which is not outrageous, Manchester and Sheffield could be an electric service for the first time since January 1970, when the Woodhead route was closed.
FirstGroup’s Proposed London King’s Cross And Sheffield Service
This open access service might happen, although with this Government of all the Lawyers we have, who can predict anything.
- If it does happen, it is likely that the trains will be battery-electric Class 802 trains.
- These will be the same as those that will be run by Hull Trains.
- Battery range will be sufficient to handle Retford and Sheffield, which is 23.3 miles and much shorter than Temple Hirst junction and Beverley.
These trains will also need charging at Sheffield.
The current Sheffield and Adwick service terminates in platform 3 at Sheffield station, so this platform would probably need to have tramway electrification, so that it could charge the trams.
Updating Rotherham Parkgate Tram Stop
My preference would be for four tph passing through Rotherham Parkgate tram stop in both directions, so this would be a tram-train every seven minutes and thirty seconds, if there was only one platform as now.
I’m fairly sure, that Rotherham Parkgate tram stop needs to have a platform in both directions.
This Google Map shows the tram stop.
Note.
- The double-track rail line between Meadowhall and Doncaster curving to the South of the Rotherham Parkgate Shopping Centre.
- The Rotherham Parkgate tram stop on a spur from the rail line.
I am pretty certain, that a two-platform station could be squeezed in.
Hull Trains Eyes Worksop And Sheffield Launch
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Railway Gazette.
These are the two introductory paragraphs of the article.
Hull Trains’ proposed London King’s Cross – Worksop – Sheffield open access service would ‘give people more choice’, offer more flexibility in train fares and make the area better known, according to Labour Member of Parliament for Bassetlaw Jo White.
Speaking at the launch of FirstGroup’s Moving forward together: Why open access is essential for a better railway report on January 21, White said the service would increase opportunities for the growing population of Worksop, where new housing being built. Looking back at the history of open access, she said East Hull MP John Prescott had been a supporter of the original launch of Hull Trains.
I suspect that the ebullient John Prescott would have given full backing to Hull Trains proposed Sheffield service.
I have some thoughts about Hull Trains proposed service.
London Overground Syndrome
I am fairly certain, that this service will suffer from from London Overground Syndrome, which is defined like this.
This benign disease, which is probably a modern version of the Victorian railway mania, was first identified in East London in 2011, when it was found that the newly-refurbished East London Line and North London Line were inadequate due to high passenger satisfaction and much increased usage. It has now spread across other parts of the capital, despite various eradication programs.
It may be for slightly different reasons, but as Workshop station has good car parking and could have fast trains to London, it could attract passengers.
But I don’t think two trains per day will be enough.
Tram-Trains Between Sheffield And Retford Via Worksop
Consider.
- It’s under twenty-five miles between Sheffield and Retford, so this route would be possible using battery-electric tram trains, similar to those in South Wales.
- These tram-trains would also be suitable for the Robin Hood Line between Nottingham and Worksop via Mansfield.
- The speed limits are not fast and the distances are not great and I suspect battery-electric versions of Sheffield’s tram trains could handle all routes.
- By using temporal separation, Hull Trains services could be sneaked in early and late in the day.
As both cities of Nottingham and Sheffield have used or thought about using tram-trains, I’m sure Stadler could provide a suitable tram-train, that could work in the two cities and all the branch lines that used to serve the numerous coal mines.
It would be levelling up on a big way.
It could grow into a very comprehensive East Midlands Metro, that also served Derby, Doncaster and possibly Lincoln.
Stadler’s products can certainly be configured in many unusual ways.
Is FirstGroup’s Order For Fourteen Trains For Lumo And Hull Trains More Identical Than Is Generally Assumed?
Currently, Hull Trains operate Class 802 trains and Lumo operate Class 803 trains.
Both trains are five-car Hitachi A-Trains and appear to be similar in size, although there are other differences.
- Hull Trains have a two-class layout, whereas on Lumo everybody sits in the same class.
- Hull Trains are a true bi-mode with the 700 kW Rolls-Royce mtu diesel generators.
- Lumo only have a battery for emergency hotel power.
- Hull Trains currently operate a route, where up to a hundred miles in each round trip can be on diesel.
- Lumo’s current route is all electric.
However, the differences in train specification doesn’t stop the two operators using each other’s trains.
This is from an article in the November 2023 Edition of Modern Railways, that is entitled Extra Luggage Racks For Lumo.
The co-operation between sister East Coast mail line open access operators Lumo and Hull Trains continues, with one recent move, being the use of a Hull Trains ‘802’ on Lumo services to cover for a shortage of the dedicated ‘803s’ while one unit was out of action for repairs following a fatality. Although the two types are similar, there are notable differences, most obviously that the Hull Trains units are bi-modes while the Lumo sets are straight EMUs and a training conversion course is required for Lumo drivers on the ‘802s’. There are also challenges from a passenger-facing perspective – The Hull Trains units have around 20 % fewer seats and a First Class area.
A future Chief Executive of FirstGroup might at some future date decide to convert all trains to the same specification.
Drive Systems Of The Five-Car Class 80x Trains
I’m writing them down for all the five-car Class 80x trains to make it easier to understand.
- Class 800 train – DPTS–MS-MS-MC–DPTF – (LNER) 3 x 560 kW or (GWR) 3 x 700 kW diesel generators.
- Class 801 train – DPTS–MS-MS-MC–DPTF – 1 x 560 kW diesel generators
- Class 802 train – DPTS–MS-MS-MC–DPTF – (LNER) 3 x 700 kW diesel generators.
- Class 803 train – DPTS–MS-MS-MS–DPTF
- Class 805 train – DPTS–MS-MS-MC–DPTF – 3 x 700 kW diesel generators.
- Class 810 train – DPTS–MS-MS-MC–DPTF – 4 x 735 kW diesel generators.
Note.
- All these five-car trains have the same drive configuration.
- Traction motors are on cars 2 and 4.
- Trains with one diesel generators have them under car 3.
- Trains with three diesel generators have them under cars 2/3/4.
- Trains with four diesel generators have them under cars 1/2/4/5.
- The traction battery in the Class 802 battery-electric test train was 750 kW, according to The Data Sheet For Hitachi Battery Electric Trains.
It is all a very balanced design.
A Standard Basic Train For Hull Trains And Lumo
This may be possible and could be the following.
- A Class 802 or Class 803 train to the latest specification.
- Five cars.
- Interior to the customers specification.
- Ability to work in pairs.
- A standard size traction battery in car 3.
The battery could be changed according to route.
- Carmarthen – 75.3 miles – See Thoughts On Lumo’s Proposed Paddington And Carmarthen Service.
- Edinburgh – 100 miles – To cover the Lincolnshire Diversion.
- Hull – 100 miles – To cover the Lincolnshire Diversion.
- Paignton – 128.2 miles – See Thoughts On Lumo’s Proposed Paddington And Paignton Service.
- Rochdale – 100 miles to cover reverse at Rochdale.
- Sheffield – 100 miles – To cover Retford and Sheffield both ways.
- Stirling – Possibly no batteries required.
I can see a battery range of 100 miles covering most routes.
There could be two or three batteries close together in cars 2, 3 and 4, driving the traction motors in cars 2 and 4 and being charged by them.
These are my thoughts on individual Hull Trains and Lumo routes.
Beverley And Hull
In Could Hull Station Be Electrified?, I put forward my view that if Hull station were to be electrified, it opens up various possibilities of running battery-electric trains to Hull and Beverley.
Hull Trains services would charge the battery, every time they went through Hull station.
Distances needed on battery power to electrification would be.
- Beverley – 16.7 miles for return trip.
- Bridlington – 31.1 miles
- Doncaster – 40.8 miles
- Scarborough – 53.8 miles
- Temple Hirst – 36.1 miles
Except for Scarborough, a single battery would probably suffice.
Beverley and Hull are handled without a battery at present, but Hull Trains might like to carry sufficient power in batteries to be able to handle the Lincoln Diversion.
Carmarthen
Cardiff and Carmarthen via Gowerton is 75.3 miles, which probably means two batteries would be needed.
See Thoughts On Lumo’s Proposed Paddington And Carmarthen Service, for more details.
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is handled without a battery at present, but Lumo might like to carry sufficient power in batteries to be able to handle the Lincoln Diversion.
Paignton
Paignton is the longest route at 128.2 miles and I doubt, it would be talked about if it wasn’t technically possibly.
See Thoughts On Lumo’s Proposed Paddington And Paignton Service, for more details.
Rochdale
Sheffield
Stirling
Stirling could be handled without a battery, but Lumo might like to carry sufficient power in batteries to be able to handle a small diversion.
Could An Open Access Operator Develop A Train Service Along The South Coast of The UK Between Kent and Fishguard?
Before I go into detail, I will answer a question that explains the terminology and the why’s and wherefores’ of the title of this post.
What Is An Open Access Operator?
This is the first paragraph of the Wikipedia entry of an Open Access Operator.
In rail transport, an open-access operator is an operator that takes full commercial risk, running on infrastructure owned by a third party and buying paths on a chosen route and, in countries where rail services run under franchises, are not subject to franchising.
In the UK, these are all open access operators, that are running services.
Note.
- Other groups are developing services.
- Regional, High Speed, International, Local and Sleeper services seem to be offered by various open access operators.
- Grand Central is a subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn,
- Hull Trains and Lumo are both subsidiaries of FirstGroup.
Open Access operators seem to operate in most European Union countries.
Why Run Between Kent and Fishguard?
- The main purpose of the train service would be to provide a low-cost rail connection between the island of Ireland and particularly the Republic of Ireland, with the Southern part of England and the European Union.
- At both ends of the route the train service would connect to ferries.
- At the Eastern end, the train service would also connect to Eurostar services through the Channel Tunnel.
- The Port of Dover could be efficiently connected to Dover Priory Station.
- Dover Priory Station could be the Eastern terminus.
- The service could stop at Folkestone Central station, if ferries call at the Port of Folkestone in the future.
- The service could stop at Ashford International station for Eurostar services.
- Fishguard Harbour station has been built as a train terminus for the Port of Fishguard.
- Fishguard Harbour station could be the Western terminus.
This could be a busy service.
Where Would The Trains Call?
Intermediate stations would depend on passenger umbers, but could start as Folkestone Central, Ashford International, Hastings, Eastbourne, Brighton, Portsmouth & Southsea, Southampton Central, Romsey, Salisbury, Warminster, Westbury, Trowbridge, Bradford-on-Avon, Bath Spa, Bristol Temple Meads, Bristol Parkway, Newport, Cardiff Central, Gowerton, Llanelli and Carmarthen.
How Long Would The Journey Be?
The journey would be around 377 miles and I suspect could take about three and a half hours with modern digital signalling.
Surprisingly, the route is fully-electrified except for the following.
- Ashford International and Ore – 27.9 miles
- Southampton Central and Bristol Parkway – 82 miles
- Cardiff Central and Fishguard Harbour – 115.6 miles
All gaps should be able to be bridged using battery power.
I suspect trains would be Hitachi high speed battery-electric trains.
Would Any European Funding Be Available?
This is an interesting question, as the service does join up two separate sections of the European Union.
Fourteen New Trains To Drive First Rail Open Access Growth
The title of this post, is the same as that of this press release from First Group.
These four bullet points are sub-headings.
- The Group has signed an agreement with Angel Trains and Hitachi to lease 14 new five-car class 80X Hitachi electric, battery electric or bi-mode trains (70 cars in total) at a cost of c.£500m including maintenance, over a ten year lease period
- The trains will be manufactured by Hitachi in County Durham, securing the skills base and jobs in the local area
- The new trains will enable FirstGroup to significantly expand its open access portfolio and will be used on the newly announced London-Carmarthen route and to increase the number of cars on the existing Lumo and Hull Trains services
- The agreement also contains an option for FirstGroup to lease up to an additional 13 trains on the same terms if the Group’s open access applications are granted by the Office of Rail and Road (‘ORR’)
These first three paragraphs add a bit more detail.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is visiting Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, today to celebrate a significant agreement for the Hitachi factory which has secured an order to manufacture 70 new rail cars for FirstGroup’s growing open access business, creating certainty for the manufacturing skills base, and the factory’s future.
The Lease Agreement will deliver 14 new trains, which will not only give the Group a homogenous fleet across its open access operations, ensuring flexibility and reliability for customers, but also facilitates the Group’s strategic objective of materially increasing its open access capacity. Delivery of the new trains is expected to commence in late 2027. The lease will be financed by Angel Trains, adding to their portfolio of Hitachi assets. The trains will be maintained by Hitachi at their facilities around the country.
The trains will be used on the Group’s open access rail services, including the Carmarthen-London route announced on 5 December, and the existing Hull Trains and Lumo services on the East Coast Mainline.
Note.
- Does the presence of Keir Starmer indicate any approval for open access?
- Trains could be electric, battery electric or bi-mode.
- Bi-mode trains should only be purchased these days, if they are convertible to battery-electric trains. Hitachi’s can.
- Delivery is expected to commence in late 2027.
- The first fourteen trains will be deployed on the London to Carmarthen, Edinburgh and Hull routes.
This table shows the trains needed initially for each route.
- Carmarthen – Class 802 trains – 5 tpd – 5 trains – 75.3 miles unelectrified
- Edinburgh – Class 803 trains – 5 tpd – 5 trains – electrified
- Hull – Class 802 trains – 5 tpd – 5 trains – 44.3 miles unelectrified
Note.
- tpd is trains per day.
- I’m assuming that as unelectrified distances to Carmarthen and Hull are not that far apart, the number of trains needed is the same.
- Class 802 trains are bi-mode.
- Class 803 trains are electric.
After the fourteen new trains are delivered, there will be a combined fleet of 29 trains.
Consider.
- Hull Trains have started running some services as pairs of trains. I wrote about this in Ten-Car Hull Trains.
- Lumo has been a success and perhaps needs more capacity.
The Wikipedia entry for Grand Union says this.
Grand Union proposed to operate with ex-LNER Class 91s and Rail Operations Group Class 93s hauling nine-car Mark 4s and a Driving Van Trailer.
So perhaps the Carmarthen service needs ten-car trains.
That would mean that the number of routes needed for the three routes would be as follows.
- Carmarthen – Class 802 trains – 5 tpd -10 trains
- Edinburgh – Class 803 trains – 5 tpd -10 trains
- Hull – Class 802 trains – 7 tpd – 10 trains
It would appear that we’re a train short with 29 in the combined fleet against a need of 30 trains.
But then it would also appear that Hull Trains can provide the required five/ten car service with only four trains.
I would assume that the extra train, goes to make up the numbers for Lumo’s Carmarthen service.
The Anonymous Widower 