Hopes of extra Blackpool to London train services scuppered as operator Grand Central rules out resurrecting its plans for five services a day

Grand Central had been due to launch services on the West Coast Main Line in summer 2020 but the plans were scrapped due to the Covid pandemic.

A spokesperson for Grand Central said: “The Grand Central model has been experiencing strong growth and is popular with customers and the communities we serve.

“As a fully commercial operator, we didn’t receive taxpayer support to run rail services during Covid and we withdrew our proposal to serve Blackpool when the pandemic hit.

“We’re continuously keeping opportunities to serve new communities under review but there are no immediate plans to introduce services at Blackpool at this time.”

In February 2020 when Grand Central, part of the Arriva Group, was poised to launch its service, it said it had spent £21m on the new North West to London route including leasing 24 coaches and five locomotives to run on the route to Euston.

Avanti runs one or two direct daily services to London from Blackpool North, but Grand Central had planned to run five return services a day, with a staff hub at Bickerstaffe House in Talbot Road which was also scrapped.

Coun Paul Galley, leader of the Conservative group on Blackpool Council, has called for fresh talks to try and bring more direct London services to the resort.

He said “In the year that our long-awaited tram extension opens, it’s essential that we turn our attention to improving transport connectivity to Blackpool.

“It was a huge blow when Grand Central suspended its London to Blackpool service and it is essential the council does all that it can to ask them to reconsider.

“The original Open Access track licence was set until 2026, so if Grand Central don’t change their mind to reinstate the service, I would urge the council to work with the Department of Transport, The Office of Rail and Road and other rail operators to reopen the case for open access direct services to London. If a licence was granted once with the right business case it can again.

“Whilst it is not in the council’s gift which operators run services to Blackpool, the council can definitely lead the discussion as to why operators should run more direct services here including to and from the West Midlands using the Crewe route that the Grand Central service would have used.

Direct routes to cities like Birmingham and London will be a big part of nurturing more business tourism to Blackpool and with it much-needed economic growth. If Blackpool Council are unable to do it then it’s something I will gladly do myself to help Blackpool.”

The offices which had been due to be used by Grand Central have been re-purposed as a training hub by the council.

Alan Cavill, director of communications and regeneration at Blackpool Council, said the council was not currently in any talks with rail operators, but added the town did still have some direct routes to London operated by Avanti.