Grand Central to use Chinese HSTs

[Griff]

We all know who Grand Central is - an open access rail operator with the route between Sunderland and London King's Cross, putting a somewhat bigger strain on the two tracks leading into King's Cross. The company intends to launch the service with refurbished HSTs on 20 May but it will replace those trains with the 140mph Chinese "Polaris" fleet in mid-2010, if its five-year track access contract can be extended.
The article can be found here, if you want to read it. Interestingly enough for BBC it is showing a picture of a Class 222 rather than the HSTs they intend to use, they initially were going to use the 222's but had trouble securing the leases on them.

[andel]

Interestingly enough for BBC it is showing a picture of a Class 222 rather than the HSTs they intend to use, they initially were going to use the 222's but had trouble securing the leases on them.

The trouble was convincing Bombardier to re-start production to build them some! Mind you, I'd like to see GC actually start some services first...

[Illegal_Alien]

Wich company builds those "Polaris" thingys?

[Ameecher]

Mind you, I'd like to see GC actually start some services first...

Indeed but then the trouble will be keeping the service running, I can't see it being very popular but then again I thought the same about Hull Trains. I think the trouble will begin if it is making money but not as much as predicted and NR/ECML operater wants to increase services into King's Cross that is when it will be cut.

Edit: Interestingly the Grand Central site has nothing about the new trains at all.

[Samuel]

Yeah,I saw this new at bbs today morning

The three trains will be build by Ziyang railcar factory(My friend said will be build by Sifang-Bombardier,Qingdao,Shandong),and I think techinoal are from former DF series diesel locomotives.

[Parkey]

What a mixed bag of countries british trains are being built in these days!

[Gord]

Sorry to bump such an old thread, but Grand Central have pics of their HST's on their website now...though not going anywhere yet! Don't think it will help their cause showing the units before the paint job though!

So far, a pretty smart livery for the new livery!

http://www.grandcentralrail.co.uk/gallery.html

[doktorhonig]

Are these built-in monopoly boards?

[Kevo00]

Have they STILL not started yet? GC are a waste of time. It'll never materialise, and if it does it will vanish far quicker than it started!

[Dave]

Yes a deal was struck with Hasbro (who took over Waddingtons I believe) to have built in Boards. They can be used with pieces from the on-board shop, or you're "welcome to bring your own".

[Born Acorn]

Interesting idea. It's also something else to look at/watch for those who don't want to play.

[RFT]

Fun as it would be, I would worry about one's carefully laid-out sicilan defence being defeated by a sharp set of points.

[Parkey]

I can see myself getting off a train in York and discovering that the sharp pain I've had in my thigh for most of the trip was in fact a small die-cast model battleship and a little green plastic house.

[Railwaymodeler]

Monopoly boards? On an ENGLISH train? Cripes, that country's the size of a smaller US STATE! Why do they need to put monopoly boards in the train? Whoever would finish the game? Now on Amtrak, that might make more sense. I could see them putting those in the lounge cars, maybe. But they're not going to do it. No money for frivolities like that.

[JamieLei]

Considering it's two hours from York to London, with no stops, and assuming that everybody travels between York and London, 2 hours is plenty enough time to finish a quick monopoly game.

Although it would be interesting to see who actually plays the games