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			Grand Central Railway operate high speed trains that provide a direct rail service to London from Sunderland, Hartlepool, Eaglescliffe and Thirsk
		Grand Central Railway carriages offer clean comfortable and modern seating with improved leg and luggage room. Buffet and restaurant facilities are available to all passengers and all coaches equipped with Wireless WiFi Internet. Grand Central Railway trains provide a high speed rail service between Sunderland, Hartlepool, Eaglescliffe, Northallerton, Thirsk, York and London Kings Cross. On the Durham Coast route the key communities of Sunderland, Hartlepool, Eaglescliffe and Thirsk have direct trains to London for the first time in many years, as well as direct links to York and connectional opportunities beyond. Rail Saver will find you the cheapest available Grand Central Railway train ticket price and book your Grand Central train tickets in a few quick easy steps using the Rail Easy™ price check and Rail Saver booking engine.

Grand Central Railways

Grand Central Railway Company Ltd is a privately-owned train operating company running services under the name Grand Central within the United Kingdom.

The company is an open-access operator on the rail network and runs a service linking Sunderland, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough and Stockton-on-Tees (at Eaglescliffe) and London King's Cross. Services began on 18 December 2007 using an interim timetable until all rolling-stock was available.

Grand Central originally planned to operate high-speed train services between Newcastle upon Tyne and Manchester across the Calder Valley. This proposal was rejected by the Rail Regulator in 2004.

On 23 March 2006, Grand Central received approval from the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) for a contract with Network Rail, lasting a minimum of five years, allowing it to operate three passenger services per day in each direction between London and Sunderland, expected to start no later than December 2006.
GNER vigorously opposed the prospect of on-rail competition on the east coast main line from Grand Central. The regulatory hearing at the ORR saw strong objections to Grand Central's services from GNER, but these were rejected. GNER then challenged the legality of the ORR's decisions by bringing a judicial review of ORR's decision in the High Court. On 27 July 2006, GNER's case failed and the High Court ruled that the ORR's decision to allow Grand Central access to the national railway network - paying access charges which are structurally different from (and lower than) those payable by franchised passenger train operators - was legal.

Grand Central's initial services were restricted by the amount of rolling stock they had available, which numbered only one complete train. The company was able to operate one train to and from Sunderland each day, with an additional service to and from York. In February 2008, the remaining power cars and coaches were delivered and an announcement was made that the full service would begin in March.

As of 1 March 2008, all rolling stock became available and a full Grand Central timetable is now in operation linking parts of the North East that have not had a direct service to London for many years.

Grand Central Railway Train Routes

Grand Central operate services from London King's Cross to Sunderland. The service passes through the stations at Seaham, Billingham, Stockton-on-Tees and Yarm but does not serve them, it is currently unknown if these would be served in the future.

	427 km (265 mi)	Sunderland
	398 km (247 mi)	Hartlepool
	375 km (233 mi)	Eaglescliffe (for Middlesbrough)
	351 km (218 mi)	Northallerton
	339 km (211 mi)	Thirsk
	303 km (188 mi)	York
		non-stop
	0 km (0 mi)	London Kings Cross

Grand Central runs two named trains. The Zephyr leaves from Sunderland on Monday-Friday mornings at 06:46. The final northbound departure runs asThe 21st Century Limited leaving from King's Cross at 16:50. The naming is a homage to the American 20th Century Limited, now run as the Lake Shore Limited by Amtrak between New York and Chicago.

Grand Central plan to double the number of Sunderland - London Kings Cross return services from December 2008 as part of a wider track access application also involving their sister company Grand Union.

In addition to its services to Sunderland, Grand Central has also expressed plans for a number of other routes.

• London to Sunderland - Grand Central applied for a new track access agreement in March 2008 requesting three further London-Sunderland services in each direction per day, taking its total to twelve trains per day.
  
  
• London to Bradford - As part of its original proposal, Grand Central also sought to run services between Kings Cross and Bradford. This proposal has evolved into one directed through Grand Union to operate up to six trains per day in each direction in the March 2008 application.
  
  
• WCML - Grand Union has developed a case for running services over two additional routes; Doncaster to Bradford Interchange, and London Euston to Bradford Interchange via Huddersfield.
  
  
• Other proposed routes - Grand Central was originally linked with a proposal to run shortened HSTs between Newcastle and Preston, via the Durham Coast, York, Wakefield, Brighouse, Rochdale and Manchester. It later suggested a York to Chester service to be run by DMUs (probably Class 158s displaced from TransPennine Express). Neither of these proposals was approved.

On Board Grand Central Trains

Grand Central Trains First Class

Grand Central Trains First class passengers can expect to enjoy traditional seating patterns with wider, reclining seats and adjacent power points for phones, personal entertainment or laptops. Complimentary beverages and a regional newspaper to hand, the first class carriage is a welcome haven for those working on the move or wanting to enjoy a more relaxed and spacious environment. Curtains at the windows will offer additional privacy and shade.

Grand Central Trains Standard Class

Grand Central Trains Standard class passengers will benefit from inter-city levels of comfort with improved seating and leg room, which will have the added advantage of providing additional space for luggage. Power points will also be provided for working, personal entertainment or phones.

All tables in First and Standard will have imprinted Monopoly®, Cluedo® and Chess Boards for those looking for some more traditional and inter-active entertainment on their journey. Pieces will be available to purchase from the buffet, or passengers are very welcome to bring their own.

Cyclists are welcome aboard all Grand Central's trains.

Grand Central Trains - Serving You!

Grand Central Rail has identified safety, passenger satisfaction, value for money and accessibility of travel as being the key elements of its service.

Safety

The assurance that Grand Central Railway take the greatest care of their passengers, meeting the same exacting standards that are applied to all operators passengers may be rest assured that their safety is a priority. Grand Central's Railway Safety Case has been developed directly at Board level, and HM Railway Inspectorate HMRI has identified their senior management as being "co-operative and responsive".

Passenger Satisfaction

A personal service that is borne from Grand Central being small enough to care about everybody who travels with them but big enough to make a difference. Grand Central Trains want you to enjoy your journey, know you are important to them and come back again soon.

Value for Money

In a competitive transport market where travellers have choices Grand Central passengers need to feel that the service they receive represents real value for money, and sets the standard for the market.

Grand Central believes that payment of the advertised fare should include a seat. Part of their commitment to passengers is a 50% refund should a seat not be available. Grand Central also believe passengers should not be penalised for those last minute decisions to travel, and will offer a simple structure on tickets, easily understood by all, with no penalty for purchasing tickets on the train.

For those who have spent a lifetime contributing to the economy, the over 60s, Grand Central Rail offer a 50% discount on advertised fares, without the need to pre-purchase a railcard.

Accessibility

By offering new high speed rail services to many new communities, Grand Central open up the network and make access to trains much easier. Over 70% of the journeys to be offered by Grand Central are not currently possible on a direct train.

Tickets will be offered via the internet, by phone, and in person with passengers also able to purchase tickets on their trains without the financial penalties associated with other transport operators.

Grand Central Rail is also aware of the growing difficulties of parking, and offer a "personal" transport service at each station served, allowing the car to be left at home, or for those without transport, the opportunity of a guaranteed service to the station. They also work with local authorities to improve access via better "park and ride" and inter-modal ticketing.

The provision of a “park and ride” site on the Northern edge of York has been supported by the local authority and will give intending passengers a guaranteed parking place and transfer to the station at a reasonable cost.

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