Open access operator Grand Central has announced the launch of the first-ever direct services between the town of Seaham, County Durham, and London.
A celebration was held at Seaham station to mark the occasion, and was attended by local MP Grahame Morris, as well as other local councillors and businesses.
The first 10:41 service from Seaham arrived into London this morning (15 December 2025) before Grahame Morris MP stepped on board to travel to Parliament, and made a tannoy announcement to celebrate the new services.
Grahame Morris, Member of Parliament for Easington, said:It’s fantastic news that Grand Central has launched its new four-a-day stopping service from Seaham to London. This service will be invaluable for my constituents, whether travelling for work or leisure, providing direct connections to both York and London.
The East Durham Coastline has been underused for decades, and I’m delighted that Grand Central has recognised the enormous potential of this route and worked hard to make it a reality.
This is a major step forward for our constituency’s connectivity and local economy, opening up new opportunities for jobs, tourism, and investment. I will continue to work closely with Grand Central to ensure these services continue well beyond the initial one-year approval period.
Previous routes from Seaham required passengers to change services in order to travel to London, with journeys often taking up to four hours. The new service allows passengers to reach London in 3 hours and 30 minutes and builds on Grand Central’s history of bolstering regional connectivity across the North East of England.
The operator also provides direct services to London from areas such as Sunderland, Hartlepool and Eaglescliffe.
Earlier this year, Arriva, Grand Central’s parent company, signed an order for 300 million GBP worth of new tri-mode trains to be introduced on Grand Central routes following the extension of its track access rights.
The new trains will be manufactured at Hitachi Rail’s Newton Aycliffe facility in the North East, and aim to improve passenger capacity by providing 20% more seating onboard.
Chris Brandon, Director at Grand Central, said:Today is a milestone not just for Grand Central, but for Seaham. For the first time in history, residents here have a direct, reliable connection to London — a connection that reflects the town’s growing ambition and needs.
This launch reflects our mission to continue investing in the North East: through our £300 million order of new trains, and through seeking increased track access rights, which will allow us to provide more services in the region for years to come.
Our focus remains on delivering the essential services that communities need, at no cost to the taxpayer, while supporting regional economic growth.
