Arriva plc has confirmed it has acquired UK open access operator Grand Central Railway which runs passenger train services between Sunderland and London, and between Bradford/Halifax and London.
The acquisition, for an undisclosed amount, adds to Arriva’s UK Trains portfolio of the CrossCountry, Arriva Trains Wales and Chiltern Railways franchises, and concessions to operate the Tyne and Wear Metro and (as a joint venture) London Overground operations.
Grand Central is an open access operator, it does not receive subsidy from, or pay any premium to the Department for Transport.
It operates four direct services between Sunderland and London Kings Cross daily, and three direct services between Bradford/Halifax and London Kings Cross.
It provides approximately 700,000 passenger journeys a year.
Bob Holland, Arriva UK Trains managing director, said:
“We firmly believe open access will play a valuable part of a balanced portfolio for our UK Trains division alongside our three franchises and concessions operated on London Overground and the Tyne and Wear Metro.
“Bringing Grand Central on board means we have a live open access operation up and running, one which is popular with customers and which we believe we can develop to become a key commercial part of our UK rail operations.”
Tom Clift, MD of Grand Central said:
“Today opens a brand new chapter for Grand Central and for open access operations on Britain’s railways.
“The decision by Arriva, one of Europe’s largest transport undertakings, to acquire Grand Central is a huge vote of confidence in all our staff who have worked so hard over the last four years to deliver the very highest standards of customer service to the growing numbers of passengers using our routes.
“I will continue to lead Grand Central and will report directly into Bob Holland, MD of Arriva’s UK Trains division.
“Meanwhile Grand Central will remain a self-contained business with its own unique brand and identity. Our headquarters will continue to be based in York.”
Arriva have also a large financial interest in yet-to-start open access operator Alliance Rail. Therefore, if the Government does not keep a close eye on things, the creeping tentacles of their owners DB (Deutsche Bahn) may try to ensnare every other potential TOC and freight operator, resulting in a German state-owned monopoly running the majority of UK rail services.
… and? What exactly would be the problem?
No problem for those who would like to see all UK passenger services run by the big European state-owned networks. I am not entirely against likes of DB, Abellio/NS or even SNCF being involved in some franchises but unlike those who seem to have a hatred of all private bus company involvement in our rail network, I would wish to see British companies such as Stagecoach, First Group etc being able to compete fairly with the big cash-rich foreign operators.
Further to my earlier comments, two further observations:
1. Arriva cannot be a Plc because they are a wholly owned subsidiary of DB and therefore, the public cannot buy shares in the company.
2. Is Arriva worried that they are going to lose both the Cross Country and Wales franchises and therefore, they need to keep rail interests going by persuading their German owners to buy up any open access operator that comes along?
how do u come about training with the grand central