Rail service would lead to 100 new jobs
Approximately 100 new and permanent full-time jobs are expected to be created through a new Stirling to London rail service.
An application to run the service has been officially submitted by open access operator Grand Union to the Office of Rail and Road (ORR).
The proposed service would run four times a day starting from May 2021, starting at Stirling then calling at Larbert, Greenfaulds, Whifflet, Motherwell and Lockerbie in Scotland and on to Carlisle, Preston, Crewe, Nuneaton and Milton Keynes, terminating at London Euston.
Grand Union expect the majority of the jobs created – management, administration and some train crew (drivers, guards, on-board hospitality staff ) – to be based in Stirling.
Grand Union marketing and development director David Prescott said: “We intend to operate a high quality intercity style train service, and once we have secured our track access rights we will start recruiting staff who share our vision of providing the best possible customer service to high standards.
“If all goes to plan we would expect this recruitment to start in the summer of 2020, through to spring 2021.”
The Class 91 locomotives used on the route would be maintained in Scotland, with an additional base at Preston or Crewe to operate the southern end of the route.
The locomotives, which would have up to nine coaches, are currently being operated by LNER on the East Coast Main Line.
Grand Union submitted its formal application last week to gain access to the route’s tracks.
Mr Prescott said: “This new train services will transform the connectivity of a number of significant and rapidly changing Scottish towns along the Scottish central corridor from Stirling through Falkirk and Lanarkshire.
“Each station has been chosen because of the benefits and opportunities it brings. Grand Union’s service will open up tourism opportunities, improve business options, provide new leisure travel opportunities and help reduce people’s reliance on air travel.
“We will be able to provide people a faster and more comfortable journey and eliminate the need to change trains by avoiding Glasgow and Edinburgh, meaning people will be able to complete the journey from Stirling to London in just over five and a half hours.”
A ‘pre-advice’ notification to the ORR earlier this year stated that the first service to London would depart Stirling at 5.30am. The service would operate roughly every three to four hours, with the last service leaving Stirling at 4.30pm. The first service from London would depart at 8.33am, operating approximately every three to four hours, with the last service to Stirling leaving London at 4.38pm.