Grand Central has agreed to lease four additional five-car Class 180 trains from Angel Trains as it prepares for a proposed direct rail service between Newcastle and Brighton.
The Arriva-owned open access operator currently has 10 Class 180 trains. The additional vehicles would bring its fleet to 14 and support the proposed Newcastle-Brighton route, which remains subject to approval by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR).
If approved, the service would provide a direct rail connection between the North East and the Sussex coast for the first time. Grand Central is proposing up to five services per day in each direction, with more than 1,000 seats available daily in each direction.
The proposed route would serve destinations including Durham, Darlington, York, London Gatwick and Reading, providing an alternative to journeys requiring a change in London or travel by road.
Grand Central submitted its application to the ORR in December 2025. As an open access operator, it would run the service independently of franchised or contracted rail services, using available capacity on the national rail network.
The four Class 180 Adelante trains have been out of service for almost three years. Subject to approval of the proposed route, they will undergo refurbishment at Arriva TrainCare’s Eastleigh Depot before entering service with Grand Central.
The work is expected to support rail engineering roles at the depot, as well as activity elsewhere in the rail supply chain.
Chris Brandon, director at Grand Central, said:Passengers in York, Darlington and Durham have historically had little choice for their journeys south. It's either change in London or add hours on to your journey travelling by road.
People deserve the option to travel directly by rail, and Grand Central has a proud track record of offering underserved communities direct links to other towns and cities, and to areas of opportunity. Our agreement to lease four new trains means we’re one step closer to this route becoming a reality, and we look forward to the ORR's response.
The proposed Newcastle-Brighton service forms part of wider investment by Arriva in Grand Central. In 2025, the company announced a 300 million GBP investment in nine new Hitachi Rail tri-mode battery-hybrid trains for Grand Central’s existing services.
Craig Nicolson, business development director at Arriva, said:Securing these trains is a significant milestone in our plans to deliver a new direct service linking Newcastle and Brighton.
Subject to ORR approval, this route would connect communities that currently lack a direct rail option, making journeys simpler, faster and more attractive for passengers travelling between the North East, the South Coast and London Gatwick.
Grand Central has a strong track record of opening up new travel opportunities and improving connectivity where it is needed most. This proposal would build on that legacy while encouraging more people to choose rail as a sustainable alternative to travelling by road.
The agreement also demonstrates our continued confidence in the growth potential of open access rail services and our commitment to investing in the UK's railway.
