Plans for direct rail route to London dropped

A rail company has withdrawn its application to provide a direct train service from Cleethorpes and Grimsby to London.

Grand Central director Chris Brandon said "the length of time currently being taken to assess applications means that our proposal is no longer viable".

Brandon said the decision to drop the bid came "despite significant local support".

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) said the application "was contested by a number of other respondents", including Network Rail and the Department for Transport.

An ORR spokesperson said the time taken to assess an application "can vary depending on its complexity".

"While opposition does not in itself mean an application takes longer to assess, the issues raised can require further evidence and consideration," the spokesperson added.

"In this case, there were detailed capacity, performance and wider economic issues progressing under our consideration before Grand Central withdrew its application."

In its application in 2025, Grand Central said the extended route would have four new return services per day and more than 775,000 additional seats annually made available between Cleethorpes, Grimsby and London's Kings Cross.

The plan was supported by North East Lincolnshire Council and local Labour MP Melanie Onn.

Brandon said Grand Central had other applications before the regulator.

"We remain hopeful that these applications will be considered within a timeframe that allows us to deliver the significant economic and social benefits that improved rail connectivity can bring to communities across the country," he said.

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