Further delay for new rail link

Grand Central sis still waiting for delivery of rolling stock

A new direct rail service from north-east England to London is not now likely to start until at least mid-November, it has been revealed.

Grand Central's Sunderland to King's Cross service, was due to begin in late 2006, but it has been hit by delays.

The company said it was still awaiting delivery of revamped rolling stock and was now pinning hopes on starting an interim service in mid-November.

Managing director Tim Clift apologised for the continued delays.

The three-times daily East Coast Main Line service will call at stations in Teesside and North Yorkshire. These include Hartlepool, Eaglescliffe, Northallerton, Thirsk and York.

Completion dates

Mr Clift said the delays were caused by contractors who had been unable to meet completion dates for rolling stock which was being refurbished.

He said: "The two contractors undertaking this work have for various reasons been unable to meet the completion dates that had been hoped for.

"As a result, our earlier predictions about a service launch have been thwarted, and as slippage in deliveries of the vehicles continues, we cannot set a launch date in stone until we actually have enough vehicles delivered, tested, approved and fit to use.

"It seems that we should have enough vehicles to start an interim service in mid-November, from which we should be able to ramp up to our full service a month later."