We’re back onto the UK Rails, with FirstGroup applying to run a new London to Sheffield rail service.
Hull Trains Class 802 – Image, FirstGroup
FirstGroup intends to operate this route via its Hull Trains subsidiary – an Open Access rail operator (ie an operator that does not receive a public subsidy to operate services)..
The proposals comprise two return journeys a day from London King’s Cross, calling at Retford, Worksop, Woodhouse and Sheffield, and the company aims to provide a faster link between London and Sheffield than alternative services (which are currently operated by East Midlands Railway).
They argue that almost three-quarters of trips between London and Sheffield are currently made by car, with a further 9% of trips made by coach, and a competitively priced new rail offering will help stimulate a shift in transport mode of choice from road to rail.
The new proposed route will give Sheffield the first regular service from London King’s Cross since 1968 and will also give Worksop in Nottinghamshire the first regular direct London trains in decades, with a catchment of 350,000 people in the Worksop and Woodhouse areas who will have direct rail access to London.
In Quotes
FirstGroup Chief Executive Officer, Graham Sutherland said
“We want to leverage our extensive experience of running open access services and repeat the success of Hull Trains and Lumo through this new route that connects London and Sheffield. We have seen the level of growth and opportunity that is possible with open access, as well as the positive effect it can have on the wider market, including economic and environmental benefits. The new service will help to drive modal shift from road to rail by offering customers a more sustainable travel alternative between the two cities. We will be working closely with stakeholders as we build our application and our case for this new offering.”
Next Steps for FirstGroup
FirstGroup has submitted a formal application to the ORR. A consultation period will now follow, as well as discussions with Network Rail to secure the required approvals.
Options for trains to be used on the route will also be worked up with rolling stock leasing companies. It is anticipated that services could begin in the second half of the 2025 calendar year if approved.
This new application also follows FirstGroup’s second open-access service, Lumo, which launched in October 2021 between London and Edinburgh. with it carrying over two million passengers since launch.
Tests ahead
This is interesting, as it will introduce competition on a route that has hardly seen it in the privatisation era – with the last major discounts seen when Stagecoach ran “MegaTrain” services on top of their regular East Midlands Trains services.
Today, London St Pancras to Sheffield is run by East Midlands Railway (Transport UK Group – the buyout company that was originally operated by Abellio) which operates regular Intercity services between East Midlands and London.
Whist two trains a day will hardly compete with East Midlands Railway, it will raise more than an eyebrow at the move.
There will be a lot of tests ahead to see if this is viable, and if it passes the magic “revenue abstraction” tests that could impact it, as well as what trains can operate the route, as well as timings.
This could get very interesting, very quickly.
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