Arriva is making a fresh application to run open access services, in spite of discouraging indications from the Department for Transport, which has highlighted possible path shortages.

Arriva Group is notifying Network Rail today that it is submitting an open access application to the Office of Rail and Road to run direct services between Cleethorpes, Grimsby, Habrough, Scunthorpe and London. Grand Central already serves the section between London King’s Cross and Doncaster, but the route onwards to Cleethorpes would be new territory.

Arriva said local people in north Lincolnshire have been campaigning for the restoration of direct trains to London which last ran over 30 years ago. Arriva is proposing to run four return servuces each day, which would provide more than 775,000 seats a year.

Arriva’s UK Trains division interim managing director Amanda Furlong said: ‘Arriva wants to make travelling by train as accessible as possible and this proposal will offer a much-needed, direct connection between major Lincolnshire towns and the capital, providing significant connectivity benefits for communities and businesses and driving long-term economic growth for the region.’

The ORR is currently considering a number of open access applications, including one from Virgin for at least 35 trains a day from London Euston to destinations in north west England and Scotland, but the DfT has warned that capacity is limited on the West Coast Main Line.

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