Angel Trains has won a bid to lease trains for the new direct rail
link between the West Yorkshire town of Calderdale and
London.
The rolling stock lessor will lease three high-speed trains in
early 2010 to Grand Central Railway, the train operating company
which is running the route to King’s Cross Station in London.
Campaigners spent four years fighting for the establishment of the
rail link along the east coast of England, which is due to start in
May next year.
One of these campaigners, Stephen Waring, a member of the
Calderdale-based Halifax And District Railway Action Group,
commented: “We are delighted the lease has been signed for the
three additional train units required to operate this route.
“It relieves the major concern that Grand Central might not be
able to acquire the rolling stock it needs because of competition
for these trains from other operators.”
Giles Fearnley, chairman of Grand Central, said: “I am hugely
excited by the signing of the lease agreement for these trains, as
it removes the largest single obstacle to the start of passenger
services.
“It provides us with sufficient certainty to proceed with the
numerous other processes required for the planned start up next
May.”
The class 180 trains which are to be leased by Angel will be fitted
with seat power sockets and a WiFi connection.
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Brendan Malkin
