Hull Trains: Data & Information
25th September 2000 – June 2008 &
2015 – Present
Hull Trains is an open-access railway operator owned by the multinational transport company First Group. It operates long-distance passenger services between Hull / Beverley and London King's Cross. It has a track-access agreement until December 2032.
In 1999, there was only one through train per day each way between Hull and London King's Cross, GNER's Hull Executive. During May 1999, former British Rail managers Mike Jones and John Nelson lodged an application to operate an open-access service through their Renaissance Trains business.
A joint venture was formed with the train operating company (TOC) GB Railways, which took an 80% shareholding, while Jones and Nelson each held a 10% stake in the new entity.
Their initial track-access agreement was granted in December 1999, permitting operations to be launched on 25th September 2000.
Hull Trains' track-access agreement has been extended multiple times since commencing operations.
Hull Trains initially operated a small fleet of three-car Class 170 Turbostar diesel multiple units; six years later, it exchanged these for four-car Class 222 Pioneer DMUs, followed by several five-car Class 180 Adelante DMUs and InterCity 125 HST sets.
In August 2003, the purchase of GB Railways by the British transport conglomerate First Group for £22 million, saw First Group take possession of their majority shareholding in Hull Trains.
In June 2008, Hull Trains was rebranded as ‘First Hull Trains’, as well as adopting First Group's corporate blue, pink and white colours as its livery.
During January 2009, the firm's access rights were extended until December 2014, and in February 2010, these rights were further extended until December 2016.
In 2008, First Hull Trains applied for track access rights to run services between Harrogate and London King's Cross via York under the First Harrogate Trains banner and from Cleethorpes to King's Cross via Lincoln and Spalding. In January 2009, the Office of Rail Regulation released its decisions on the ECML route planning and rejected First Harrogate Trains' application.
In August 2014, First Group purchased the remaining 20% shareholding in the business. In January 2015, the track access agreement was extended until December 2019. That same year, the ‘Hull Trains’ name was readopted.
During March 2016, First Hull Trains obtained approval for a further 10-year open-access agreement until 2029, allowing it to proceed with ordering five Class 802 electro-diesel multiple-unit trains which had been announced by the operator on 3rd September 2015.
Early services were limited to a maximum speed of 100 mph, the introduction of the Class 222 enabled speeds to be raised to 125 mph. As of 2022, all of Hull Trains' services are operated by a fleet of five Class 802 Paragon bi-mode multiple units (BMUs).
In late March 2020, Hull Trains temporarily suspended all services due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout the pandemic, there was concern that the company would be unable to survive without help from the government. However, Hull Trains was able to resume services on 21st August 2020. In October 2020, a three-year extension on Hull Trains' access rights was granted.
Following the implementation of a second lockdown directed by the British government, Hull Trains announced on 2nd November 2020 that it would once again be temporarily suspending all services from 5th November 2020. After the second lockdown ended, Hull Trains resumed service on 3rd December 2020 with a limited timetable. Following a third lockdown's implementation, Hull Trains announced on 5th January 2021 that it would be once again temporarily suspending all services from 9th January 2021. Regular services were resumed on 12th April 2021.
Read More2015 – Present
Hull Trains is an open-access railway operator owned by the multinational transport company First Group. It operates long-distance passenger services between Hull / Beverley and London King's Cross. It has a track-access agreement until December 2032.
In 1999, there was only one through train per day each way between Hull and London King's Cross, GNER's Hull Executive. During May 1999, former British Rail managers Mike Jones and John Nelson lodged an application to operate an open-access service through their Renaissance Trains business.
A joint venture was formed with the train operating company (TOC) GB Railways, which took an 80% shareholding, while Jones and Nelson each held a 10% stake in the new entity.
Their initial track-access agreement was granted in December 1999, permitting operations to be launched on 25th September 2000.
Hull Trains' track-access agreement has been extended multiple times since commencing operations.
Hull Trains initially operated a small fleet of three-car Class 170 Turbostar diesel multiple units; six years later, it exchanged these for four-car Class 222 Pioneer DMUs, followed by several five-car Class 180 Adelante DMUs and InterCity 125 HST sets.
In August 2003, the purchase of GB Railways by the British transport conglomerate First Group for £22 million, saw First Group take possession of their majority shareholding in Hull Trains.
In June 2008, Hull Trains was rebranded as ‘First Hull Trains’, as well as adopting First Group's corporate blue, pink and white colours as its livery.
During January 2009, the firm's access rights were extended until December 2014, and in February 2010, these rights were further extended until December 2016.
In 2008, First Hull Trains applied for track access rights to run services between Harrogate and London King's Cross via York under the First Harrogate Trains banner and from Cleethorpes to King's Cross via Lincoln and Spalding. In January 2009, the Office of Rail Regulation released its decisions on the ECML route planning and rejected First Harrogate Trains' application.
In August 2014, First Group purchased the remaining 20% shareholding in the business. In January 2015, the track access agreement was extended until December 2019. That same year, the ‘Hull Trains’ name was readopted.
During March 2016, First Hull Trains obtained approval for a further 10-year open-access agreement until 2029, allowing it to proceed with ordering five Class 802 electro-diesel multiple-unit trains which had been announced by the operator on 3rd September 2015.
Early services were limited to a maximum speed of 100 mph, the introduction of the Class 222 enabled speeds to be raised to 125 mph. As of 2022, all of Hull Trains' services are operated by a fleet of five Class 802 Paragon bi-mode multiple units (BMUs).
In late March 2020, Hull Trains temporarily suspended all services due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout the pandemic, there was concern that the company would be unable to survive without help from the government. However, Hull Trains was able to resume services on 21st August 2020. In October 2020, a three-year extension on Hull Trains' access rights was granted.
Following the implementation of a second lockdown directed by the British government, Hull Trains announced on 2nd November 2020 that it would once again be temporarily suspending all services from 5th November 2020. After the second lockdown ended, Hull Trains resumed service on 3rd December 2020 with a limited timetable. Following a third lockdown's implementation, Hull Trains announced on 5th January 2021 that it would be once again temporarily suspending all services from 9th January 2021. Regular services were resumed on 12th April 2021.
