First Harrogate Trains[1] was a proposed open access operator with ambitions to run passenger rail services between Harrogate and London King's Cross via York.[2][3][4][5] The company was a subsidiary of Hull Trains, then owned by FirstGroup (80%) and Renaissance Trains (20%).
 | |
| Franchise(s) | Open access operator |
|---|---|
| Main region(s) | Harrogate Line East Coast Main Line |
| Parent company | FirstGroup (80%) Renaissance Trains (20%) |
| Other | |
| Website | www.harrogatetrains.co.uk |
The company proposed to run from Harrogate to London King's Cross with up to four services each way per day.[6] The application to run trains was rejected by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) in February 2009.[7] It cited that the services would not bring enough new patronage and thus rely on abstracting revenue from existing train operating companies.[8]
First Harrogate Trains also applied to operate four trains per day from Cleethorpes to London Kings Cross, with an additional four between Lincoln Central and London, and to open a new station at Donnington Parkway. In 2009, this application was rejected by the ORR.[2][3][9]
Had the proposal been successful, it was intended that services would commence in the summer of 2009.[10]
Rolling stock
editThe preferred rolling stock to be used was Class 180 Adelante or Class 222 Pioneer trains, the types used by Hull Trains previously.[6][11]
References
edit- ^ Companies House extract company no 6592311 Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine First Harrogate Trains Limited
- ^ a b "Three companies want East Coast paths". Today's Railways UK. No. 78. June 2008. p. 6.
- ^ a b "Hull Trains applies to serve Harrogate four times a day". Rail. No. 594. 18 June 2008. p. 12.
- ^ Train firm aims to boost London link Harrogate Advertiser 4 July 2008
- ^ Poppleton to London direct The Press (York) 1 August 2008
- ^ a b Track Application - page 2 Office of Rail Regulation
- ^ ORR announces its decision on East Coast Main Line track access applications Office of Rail Regulation 27 February 2009
- ^ "Grand Northern set for Bradford". Rail. No. 611. 11 February 2009. p. 20.
- ^ Hull Trains - Track Access Rights on the East Coast Main Line Archived 25 June 2008 at the Wayback Machine Office of the Rail Regulator 19 March 2008
- ^ Home Harrogate Trains
- ^ "Hull Trains unveils Harrogate service". Today's Railways UK. No. 85. January 2009. p. 10.