Arriva to Run Newcastle-Brighton Train Bypassing London
Arriva has submitted an open-access rail application to operate a train service from Newcastle to Brighton, bypassing London.
New train between Newcastle and Brighton
The Arriva Group has submitted an open access application to the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) to introduce a new direct rail service between Newcastle and Brighton.
The service, which Arriva plans to operate through its open-access subsidiary Grand Central, will notably bypass London, providing passengers in the Northeast, Midlands, and South Coast with a convenient direct train.
At present, passengers wishing to travel from Newcastle to Brighton by train must change in London.
This also involves crossing London between different terminus stations, as passengers arriving from the Northeast must travel from King’s Cross to Victoria to catch their train to the English South Coast.
Grand Central train at the station of York. ©Arriva UK/Grand Central
London Gatwick
The proposed train service between Newcastle and Brighton will call at London Gatwick Airport, offering passengers from towns north of London a convenient connection to this airport south of the city.
According to Arriva, the new train service will offer passengers a “reliable, comfortable and lower-carbon alternative to road travel” while also helping to ease “capacity constraints on London’s transport network”.
London Gatwick Airport CCO Jonathan Pollard 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. ”
The full route
The proposed Grand Central train service from Newcastle to Brighton would call at Durham, Darlington, Northallerton, York, Doncaster, Sheffield, Derby, Burton-on-Trent, Birmingham New Street, Warwick Parkway, Banbury, Oxford, Reading, Wokingham, Guildford, Redhill, London Gatwick Airport, and Haywards Heath en route from Tyneside to the South Coast.
Each Grand Central train will offer capacity for 300 passengers, dedicated luggage space for airport travellers, as well as on-board catering, Wi-Fi internet, and charging points.
Grand Central is an open access rail operator owned by Arriva. ©Arriva UK/Grand Central
Other Arriva services
Besides the proposed Newcastle–Brighton train, Arriva is also awaiting ORR approval for some other services.
These include two additional daily return services between Bradford and London, an early morning and late evening return service from York to London, and the introduction of a direct connection from London to Grimsby and Cleethorpes.
AndyB says
This innovative new service between Newcastle and Brighton is something I welcome, as it enables people to travel directly by train, which is especially important for mobility impaired passengers.
This also applies to people who are daunted by the prospect of changing trains between different London stations, or those travelling with heavy luggage or multiple bags.
Conclusion
Arriva has submitted an open-access rail application for a new train service between Newcastle and Brighton, via London Gatwick Airport.
The new train service, which will be operated by Grand Central, would provide passengers in the Northeast, Midlands, and South Coast with a convenient direct rail link, eliminating the need to change trains in central London, as is the case now.
