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Grand Central , part of the Arriva group, said it has spent £21m on the new North West to London route.

It has leased 24 coaches and five locomotives to run on the route to Euston but will not be using Pendolino trains on its services.

The coaches are Mark 4s, built between 1989 and 1992, and currently undergoing a £1.5m refurbishment at Alstom in Widnes.

Paul Batty of Grand Central with one of the Class 90 locomotives which will run from Blackpool to London

They are leased from rolling stock firm Eversholt Rail and will have Grand Central livery and a full interior refresh designed with the comfort of leisure and business passengers in mind.

Grand Central has also hired a pool of five locomotives (Class 90s built between 1987-1990) from freight firm DB Cargo UK.

The electric, non-tilting trains, will run along the main route stopping at Poulton-le-Fylde and Kirkham and Wesham, Preston and Nuneaton.

Grand Central said it has recruited train drivers and is in the final stages of recruiting the onboard staff it needs for its Blackpool train crew hub.

Grand Central will run five services a day to London

Dave Hatfield, Grand Central’s fleet director, said: “We’re delighted to reveal our rolling stock for our new North West to London route. These trains have been chosen because of their proven track record and suitability for the service that we will be operating. It’s exciting times ahead and we’re thrilled to be bringing our operational expertise and industry-leading customer service to this new route.”

The firm operates trains between the North East and London and will now have five direct services a day from Blackpool to London.

Blackpool will gain direct services to London on Sundays, as well as later trains to and from the capital on Mondays to Saturdays which could help increase tourist numbers.

Stephen Brooks, the Blackpool-based rail sector champion for disabled passengers, said it was “excellent news”.

He said: “The accessibility and space for wheelchairs on the Mark 4 coaches are good which will benefit disabled travellers and also elderly passengers.

“But what is more exciting is that the timetable has trains at decent times to get to London and back. And Grand Central’s customer service has recently been rated excellent for elderly and disabled people.”

Trains will leave Blackpool North at 6.57, 8.10, 11.50, 15.48 and 17.13 on week days.

They will leave Euston at 7.36, 11.33, 12.33, 15.33, 19.33.

Saturday will have five services and Sundays four.

The trains set to run on Blackpool's new direct service to London are revealed