GNER has moved swiftly to secure the two extra trains that are required to help introduce 12 additional weekday services between Yorkshire, the East Midlands and London from May.

The two diesel High Speed Trains (HSTs) will be given a major makeover during the next two years as part of an investment package of £20m.

The HSTs will be painted in GNER’s blue and red livery, will be fully overhauled and undergo extensive reliability modifications, and have wireless internet installed in time for entering service in May.

Then, during the course of the following two years, they will have new cleaner, greener engines installed and a major interior revamp, which will include new seats, carpets and lighting.

Richard McClean, operations director, GNER, said: “The two HSTs are in excellent condition and our programme of work will prepare them for the launch of our 12 extra weekday services on Monday 21st May. But we are not stopping there. These trains will get new interiors and new engines by March 2009, by which time GNER’s two types of train – electric 225s and diesel 125s – will have very similar, high standard interiors.”

GNER is leasing the two HSTs from Porterbrook Leasing, which owns and leases railway rolling stock to train operating companies. Keith Howard, Commercial Director, Porterbrook Leasing, said: “We are pleased to be able to support GNER in the extension of their services and in offering passengers a high quality environment in which to travel.”

GNER secured the two HSTs within two weeks of being given approval by the Office of Rail Regulation to run 12 extra services.

The 12 extra GNER services will operate between Leeds and London King’s Cross - six in each direction - from Monday 21 May to provide a half-hourly, turn-up-and-go frequency of service between the two cities. In addition, some or all of the new services will call at Wakefield, Doncaster, Newark North Gate, Grantham, Peterborough and Stevenage stations, providing new journey opportunities for current and future passengers.

The 12 extra services will provide 1.6 million seats each year, based on the number of extra weekday services – 12 – multiplied by the seat capacity of each train (approximately 530) over a calendar year.
Currently there are 53 services per weekday between Leeds and London, in total in both directions. The 12 extra services to be introduced from 21st May will increase that figure to 65 services per weekday, a 23% rise.

The additional vehicles obtained from Porterbrook are all ex Midland Main Line, are:
43056, 41080, 41083, 40708, 42163, 42164, 42165, 42228, 42286, 44050 and 43057 which will form our set EC63
43051, 41058, 41153, 40701, 42101, 42102, 42147, 42294, 42352, 44083 and 43053 which will form our set EC64
with Power Car 43077 and Catering Car 40804 being spares