Great North Eastern Railway (GNER): Data & Information
28th April 1996–2003 (extended until 2005)
2005 – 9th December 2007 (originally 2015)
During March 1996, Sea Containers was awarded the franchise to operate the East Coast services operating as Great North Eastern Railway, generally referred to as GNER.
It operated the InterCity East Coast franchise on the East Coast Main Line between London, Yorkshire, North East England and Scotland from April 1996 until December 2007.
Selected services to/from Edinburgh Waverley continued to/started from Glasgow, Inverness, Dundee & Aberdeen. Selected services to/from Leeds continued to/started from Bradford, Skipton & Harrogate. One service per day also ran to and from Hull via Selby.
GNER was originally awarded a seven-year franchise in April 1996 to run what had been the InterCity East Coast division of British Rail. The company was later granted a two-year extension allowing it to operate trains until 2005.
During March 2005, the Strategic Rail Authority awarded the East Coast franchise to GNER for a second time, overcoming rival bids from Danish State Railways, First London, Scottish and North East Railway, and inter city-railways (a consortium of Deutsche Bahn, Stagecoach Group, and Virgin Group).
The terms for this second franchise period were financially demanding, seeing the withdrawal of subsidies and enactment of charges to the British Government.
Concerns over the viability of such payments, as well as the general financial condition of Sea Containers were well-founded with Sea Containers entering bankruptcy in November 2006.
Following its inability to fulfil agreed payments, GNER was stripped of the franchise by the Department for Transport on 15th December 2006, although it continued to run services on the route for another year via a management contract.
Virgin Trains/Stagecoach Group, First Group plc and National Express Group all submitted bids for the franchise.
On 14th August 2007 it was announced that the National Express Group had been awarded the franchise, operating under the name of National Express East Coast.
GNER continued operating the route until the new franchise started on 9th December 2007 with the final northbound GNER train being the 2030 London King's Cross-Newcastle on 8th December 2007.
Read More2005 – 9th December 2007 (originally 2015)
During March 1996, Sea Containers was awarded the franchise to operate the East Coast services operating as Great North Eastern Railway, generally referred to as GNER.
It operated the InterCity East Coast franchise on the East Coast Main Line between London, Yorkshire, North East England and Scotland from April 1996 until December 2007.
Selected services to/from Edinburgh Waverley continued to/started from Glasgow, Inverness, Dundee & Aberdeen. Selected services to/from Leeds continued to/started from Bradford, Skipton & Harrogate. One service per day also ran to and from Hull via Selby.
GNER was originally awarded a seven-year franchise in April 1996 to run what had been the InterCity East Coast division of British Rail. The company was later granted a two-year extension allowing it to operate trains until 2005.
During March 2005, the Strategic Rail Authority awarded the East Coast franchise to GNER for a second time, overcoming rival bids from Danish State Railways, First London, Scottish and North East Railway, and inter city-railways (a consortium of Deutsche Bahn, Stagecoach Group, and Virgin Group).
The terms for this second franchise period were financially demanding, seeing the withdrawal of subsidies and enactment of charges to the British Government.
Concerns over the viability of such payments, as well as the general financial condition of Sea Containers were well-founded with Sea Containers entering bankruptcy in November 2006.
Following its inability to fulfil agreed payments, GNER was stripped of the franchise by the Department for Transport on 15th December 2006, although it continued to run services on the route for another year via a management contract.
Virgin Trains/Stagecoach Group, First Group plc and National Express Group all submitted bids for the franchise.
On 14th August 2007 it was announced that the National Express Group had been awarded the franchise, operating under the name of National Express East Coast.
GNER continued operating the route until the new franchise started on 9th December 2007 with the final northbound GNER train being the 2030 London King's Cross-Newcastle on 8th December 2007.
