Sponsored by
New delay to Sunderland-London rail link
A direct rail link from Sunderland to London is not now likely to start until at least mid-November.
Grand Central's 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.
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, and maybe Seaham.
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: "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 we should have enough vehicles to start an interim service in mid-November, from which we should be able to ramp up to afull service a month later."
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Sunderland
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -2 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 1 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South
