Application for Paddington-Cardiff open access trains

Open access services could be running between London Paddington and Cardiff Central from December 2020, following an application from Grand Union Trains to the Office of Rail and Road for paths.

The trains would operate using Class 91s, nine Mk 4s and a Driving Van Trailer that will become redundant when displaced by Hitachi Azumas on the East Coast Main Line.

Grand Union Trains made the application on March 27, states that the trains would call at Bristol Parkway, Severn Tunnel Junction, Newport and Cardiff Central.

There would be an hourly service, with the first train leaving Paddington at 0735 and arriving in the Welsh capital at 0920. The last service would leave London at 2135.

In the other direction, the first train would leave Cardiff Central at 0635 arriving in London at 0820. The final London-bound departure would be at 1935.

Great Western Railway currently operates trains on the route. It told RAIL it was confident that passengers would continue to use its services, citing the age of its Intercity Express Trains (introduced from October 2017) compared with the Mk 4s (1989-92).

There are no details on where the ‘91s’ and stock would be maintained. On the route itself, the only electrified depots are GWR’s Reading depot, Hitachi’s North Pole and Bombardier’s Old Oak Common.

Another open access operator, Alliance Rail, will be using Class 91s and Mk 4s on West Coast Main Line open access services between London Euston and Blackpool North from September.

Currently used by LNER, a quarter of the 30 sets used on the ECML are due to be returned to their owner Eversholt Rail between June and September this year (see Fleet News, pages 32-33), with the rest following next year.

The ORR told RAIL on April 15 that as the application had only recently been received, it had yet to formulate a full view on it.

RAIL contacted Grand Union Trains, but had received no response as this issue went to press.