New train route to link one of UK's best seaside towns with major northern city
A new train route would directly link two cities at opposite ends of the country.
Aviva Grand Central has announced plans for a new service that would link up Newcastle and Brighton for the first time. The new railway journey would directly connect the south coast with the northeast, travelling via Birmingham, York and London Gatwick.
It would mean that travellers would no longer need to change trains in London, saving time and effort for those fancying a trip north or south. Arriva's Grand Central brand has submitted an application to the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) for permission to start the new service.
Although the travel time hasn't been revealed yet, the current average journey time from Brighton to Newcastle is four hours and 20 minutes. It is likely that the trip would be quicker without a stop in the middle. If the request is approved, then the service is likely to be up and running five times a day in each direction from December next year.
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Here's the full list of proposed stops for the route.
Newcastle
Durham
Darlington
Northallerton
York
Doncaster
Sheffield
Derby
Burton-on-Trent
Birmingham New Street
Warwick Parkway
Banbury
Oxford
Reading
Wokingham
Guildford
Redhill
London Gatwick
Haywards Heath
Brighton
Paul Hutchings, managing director of Arriva UK Trains' rail services, said: "We're committed to connecting communities and enabling more people to travel in ways that are convenient and sustainable, so we're very pleased to be submitting this application for the first direct service between Newcastle and Brighton, opening up new travel opportunities and making better use of available network capacity – all while building on Grand Central's proud history of connecting traditionally underserved communities."
Each of the new trains will have capacity for 300 passengers, including luggage space for airport travellers, in addition to on-board catering, wi-fi and charging points. There is plenty for Geordies visiting Brighton to look forward to, and vice versa. Check out our guides to both cities, which include a rundown of the best things to do in both.
The new route will also provide a direct train link to Gatwick for towns in the North East and Midlands such as Northallerton, Warwick and Burton-on-Trent. That means an extended list of destinations abroad for those customers to choose from.
Jonathan Pollard, chief commercial officer of Gatwick Airport, said: 'We welcome Arriva's exploration of a regular service between London Gatwick, the Midlands and North East, and are excited about the opportunities this proposed service could bring.
"London Gatwick is keen to encourage passengers to use public transport and this enhanced connectivity would support underserved areas, while strengthening and growing our catchment. London Gatwick already boasts an extensive network supported by strong relationships with transport providers, making the airport the best connected in the UK by public transport."
Grand Central currently runs services connecting Sunderland and Bradford with London King's Cross. The Sunderland service runs via Hartlepool, Eaglescliffe, Northallerton, Thirsk, York and Peterborough.
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