From Railnews -
https://www.railnews.co.uk/news/2021/01/06-open-access-operators-cancel-services.htmlOPEN access operators Grand Central and Hull Trains are withdrawing their services in response to the new lockdown in England.
Grand Central says it plans to 'hibernate' services to Sunderland and Bradford from 9 January until at least 1 March. Hull Trains will also withdraw all its services from 9 January but has not quoted a possible return date.
Grand Central said: 'It's hugely disappointing for us to be starting 2021 by removing our trains from the communities they serve. However, even before Monday?s Government announcement of a total lockdown, the impact of tightening tier restrictions and ongoing engineering work on the East Coast Main Line had caused a major drop in passenger demand for January and February.
'As an Open Access operator, relying exclusively on income from ticket sales, it's clear we would best serve the needs of our business and our staff and passengers, by taking a period of hibernation.'
Where is the medium and long term future for Open Access, on a rail network that's operated by management contracts rather than franchises? As well as the operating services (Hull and the North East and Yorkshire to London) plans a year ago were Blackpool to London, Cardiff to London and Taunton/Westbury to Banbury/Nuneaton - and I may have missed some.
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