Grand Union Trains (GUT) Limited (London to Stirling) 7 March 2024
| Date | 07 March 2024 |
| Train operator | Grand Union Trains (GUT) Limited (London to Stirling) |
| Section | Decisions on new, disputed contracts (section 17) |
Head Office: 25 Cabot Square, London E14 4QZ T: 020 7282 2000 orr.gov.uk
Stephanie Tobyn
Director, Strategy, Policy & Reform
07 March 2024
Ian Yeowart
Managing Director
Grand Union Trains Limited
Riverside Lodge
Naburn Lane, Fulford
York
YO19 4RB
Lawrence Bowman
Interim
Group Director, System Operator
Network Rail Infrastructure Limited
1 Eversholt Street
London
NW1 2DN
Dear Mr Yeowart and Mr Bowman,
Application for a new track access contract for services between London Euston and
Stirling
1. We have carefully considered Grand Union Trains Limited’s (Grand Union’s)
application for a track access contract with Network Rail Infrastructure Limited (Network
Rail). This was submitted to us under section 17 of the Railways Act 1993 (the Act) in
October 2023.
2. We have decided to approve access rights from June 2025 to June 2030 for Grand
Union to operate four daily return services between London Euston and Stirling, calling at
Milton Keynes Central, Nuneaton, Crewe (contingent rights only), Preston, Carlisle,
Lockerbie, Motherwell, Whifflet, Greenfaulds and Larbert, with an additional positioning
move service each day each way between London Euston and Preston.
3. In taking this decision we placed particular weight on the beneficial aspects of this
application arising from the introduction of the first open access competition on the West
Coast Main Line (WCML) and new, better rail journey opportunities for passengers,
particularly between central and southern Scotland and London.
4. We will now draw up the detailed access contract to direct Network Rail and Grand
Union to enter into. We will discuss the drafting of these terms separately with you.
5. This letter explains the reasons for our decision.
Background
6. Grand Union originally submitted an application in 2019 to run services between
London Euston and Stirling using new build bi-mode trains, and revised its application and
resubmitted it in October 2022. In September 2023, Grand Union withdrew its application
and submitted this new application to ORR in November 2023 to run the same services
but using existing off-lease rolling stock. This application was submitted as a disputed
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