First train for new rail service

Trial runs with the new engines have proved successful

The company behind a much-delayed rail link from the north-east of England to London has taken delivery of its first complete train.

Grand Central's Sunderland to King's Cross service is a year overdue, mainly because the firm has struggled to meet deadlines for refurbishing carriages.

Now contractors have supplied enough rolling stock to form one of the three required vehicles.

But further setbacks have pushed the start date back to late December.

Grand Central will run three services per day on the East Coast mainline, with stops in Teesside and North Yorkshire.

The company had initially planned to launch with new trains, but delivery problems forced them to proceed with second-hand stock.

Most recently, it has faced difficulty obtaining approval from the Department for Transport and Network Rail.

'Due process'

Managing Director Tom Clift said: "There has been a knock-on delay in the provision of information to these organisations as much of it is contingent on completion of the refurbishment of individual vehicles.

"Sensibly we cannot start running until we have enough vehicles completed, working properly and approved for passenger use.

"I believe that we can be up and running in the second half of December but any such predictions can quickly become invalid depending on how things go on the ground and with the proper due process of gaining approvals."

The new Sunderland to Kings Cross service will call at Hartlepool, Eaglescliffe, Northallerton, Thirsk and York.