THE firm bidding to run train services from Huddersfield to London has vowed not to let the latest hold-up in talks with regulators derail its plans.
Alliance Rail Holdings wants to run services from Huddersfield to Euston via Stockport on the West Coast Main Line under its Great North Western Railway Company (GNWR) brand.
The GNWR route would offer a journey time of 2hrs 40mins.
But the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) has announced that continuing uncertainty over the longer term development of the West Coast Main Line timetable meant it was unable to make a decision “at this time” regarding Alliance Rail’s application for “a significant number” of new trains between important northern towns and cities and London Euston.
Alliance managing director Ian Yeowart said: “The West Coast Main Line is a vitally important rail artery and we will continue to work with Network Rail, the industry and the ORR to identify the capacity needed to deliver our new services in 2015 as planned.
“The suspension of our application gives the industry time to focus on creating a new timetable that provides the space for an increase in services that will serve significant new destinations and give more choice for passengers.”
Mr Yeowart said: “The introduction of new open access services – those outside a franchise – has always taken a significant amount of time.
“The challenges faced in the five years it took to establish Grand Central services between London King’s Cross and Sunderland and Bradford are identical to those now being addressed by Alliance.”
He added: “Alliance has supplied a significant amount of supporting information to the ORR in respect of this application and it is now down to the industry to work collaboratively to ensure the significant investment made in upgrading the West Coast Main Line can benefit the maximum number of people.”
Alliance’s submission to the ORR calls for GNWR to operate more than 60 trains a day using new rolling stock.
The company claims it will create almost 400 jobs and will deliver more than £3.5bn of wider economic benefits to the areas it will serve.
