Midland Mainline: Data & Information
28th April 1996 – 10th November 2007
Created after the privatisation of British Rail, Midland Mainline, which was owned by the National Express Group, operated the Midland Mainline franchise from 28th April 1996 to 10th November 2007.
Midland Mainline ran fast and semi-fast passenger services from London to the East Midlands and Yorkshire along the Midland Main Line. Trains ran from London St Pancras, which it used exclusively, to Sheffield, Derby, or Nottingham, with some services extended to Leeds, York, Barnsley and Burton upon Trent.
From May 2003 until September 2004, whilst the West Coast Main Line between Manchester and London Euston underwent major engineering work, Midland Mainline operated a temporary service between London St Pancras and Manchester Piccadilly utilising former Virgin Cross-Country Class 43 High Speed Train sets that were quickly painted into Midland Mainline livery.
This service was known as Project Rio, named after the footballer Rio Ferdinand who had made a record transfer to from Leeds United to Manchester United Football Club.
The units used on Project Rio were intended for use on services to/from Leeds and instead were used to/from Manchester - hence the name.
The service used the Midland Main Line as far as Trent Junction, before taking the Erewash Valley Line (avoiding Derby) to Clay Cross, rejoining the Midland Main Line until Dore South Curve, which linked trains onto the Hope Valley Line towards Manchester.
On 22nd June 2007, the Department for Transport announced that Midland Mainline had lost the franchise to operate these services from 11th November 2007. Services were transferred to East Midlands Trains, operated by Stagecoach Group. Midland Mainline then ceased to operate.
Read MoreCreated after the privatisation of British Rail, Midland Mainline, which was owned by the National Express Group, operated the Midland Mainline franchise from 28th April 1996 to 10th November 2007.
Midland Mainline ran fast and semi-fast passenger services from London to the East Midlands and Yorkshire along the Midland Main Line. Trains ran from London St Pancras, which it used exclusively, to Sheffield, Derby, or Nottingham, with some services extended to Leeds, York, Barnsley and Burton upon Trent.
From May 2003 until September 2004, whilst the West Coast Main Line between Manchester and London Euston underwent major engineering work, Midland Mainline operated a temporary service between London St Pancras and Manchester Piccadilly utilising former Virgin Cross-Country Class 43 High Speed Train sets that were quickly painted into Midland Mainline livery.
This service was known as Project Rio, named after the footballer Rio Ferdinand who had made a record transfer to from Leeds United to Manchester United Football Club.
The units used on Project Rio were intended for use on services to/from Leeds and instead were used to/from Manchester - hence the name.
The service used the Midland Main Line as far as Trent Junction, before taking the Erewash Valley Line (avoiding Derby) to Clay Cross, rejoining the Midland Main Line until Dore South Curve, which linked trains onto the Hope Valley Line towards Manchester.
On 22nd June 2007, the Department for Transport announced that Midland Mainline had lost the franchise to operate these services from 11th November 2007. Services were transferred to East Midlands Trains, operated by Stagecoach Group. Midland Mainline then ceased to operate.
