Glasgow Trains
Encyclopedia
Glasgow Trains is a proposed open access
rail operator in Great Britain from Renaissance Trains
. They would offer a twice daily direct service between Liverpool
and Glasgow
with intermediate stops at Preston
and Carlisle
. They would also run services between Nottingham station
and Glasgow Central
, a direct service lost after privatisation.
The concept arose in 2004, when Renaissance Trains entered negotiation with Network Rail
for track access rights in order to operate services between the East Midlands
, the North-west and Glasgow
. The initial proposal advocated running two trains per day between Glasgow and Liverpool
/Nottingham
, by having a single train depart Glasgow, then divide at Preston, with half running to each destination. During the development of the business case, it was determined that running the Nottingham services via Leeds and Carlisle was a more viable alternative. Another possibility has been for trains to run to Blackpool
.
The Glasgow Trains proposal was put on hold in November 2005 to allow the new franchises to be settled and their needs (in terms of train paths) identified. The proposal is continuing now. As of 6 September 2007, Renaissance Trains is now planning potential train paths for Glasgow Trains to use and their operations, in accordance with Network Rail. The investment programme for Glasgow Trains includes the opening of a new parkway
station on the route between Glasgow and Liverpool.
Open access operator
An open access operator is a train operating company that is not subject to franchising.- Open access operators in Great Britain :*Eurostar*Grand Central Railway*Heathrow Connect*Heathrow Express*Hull Trains*Nexus*Pre Metro Operations -In development:...
rail operator in Great Britain from Renaissance Trains
Renaissance Trains
Renaissance Trains is a company formed in 1997 with the purpose of promoting and investing in "open access" passenger and freight rail businesses in the United Kingdom, as well as promoting and investing in rail industry innovation. Its shareholders are John Nelson, Peter Wilkinson, Mike Jones and...
. They would offer a twice daily direct service between Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
and Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
with intermediate stops at Preston
Preston railway station
Preston railway station serves the city of Preston in Lancashire, England and is a major station on the West Coast Main Line.It is served by Northern Rail, Virgin Trains, and TransPennine Express services, plus First ScotRail overnight sleeper services between London and Scotland.-Station layout...
and Carlisle
Carlisle railway station
Carlisle railway station, also known as Carlisle Citadel station, is a railway station whichserves the Cumbrian City of Carlisle, England, and is a major station on the West Coast Main Line, lying south of Glasgow Central, and north of London Euston...
. They would also run services between Nottingham station
Nottingham station
Nottingham station, for some time known as Nottingham Midland or Nottingham City, is the principal railway station of the city of Nottingham and the Greater Nottingham area...
and Glasgow Central
Glasgow Central
Glasgow Central has more than one meaning:*Glasgow Central railway station, a railway station in Glasgow, Scotland*Glasgow Central , a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, from 1885 to 1997 and from 2005 to present...
, a direct service lost after privatisation.
The concept arose in 2004, when Renaissance Trains entered negotiation with Network Rail
Network Rail
Network Rail is the government-created owner and operator of most of the rail infrastructure in Great Britain .; it is not responsible for railway infrastructure in Northern Ireland...
for track access rights in order to operate services between the East Midlands
East Midlands
The East Midlands is one of the regions of England, consisting of most of the eastern half of the traditional region of the Midlands. It encompasses the combined area of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Northamptonshire and most of Lincolnshire...
, the North-west and Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
. The initial proposal advocated running two trains per day between Glasgow and Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
/Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
, by having a single train depart Glasgow, then divide at Preston, with half running to each destination. During the development of the business case, it was determined that running the Nottingham services via Leeds and Carlisle was a more viable alternative. Another possibility has been for trains to run to Blackpool
Blackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
.
The Glasgow Trains proposal was put on hold in November 2005 to allow the new franchises to be settled and their needs (in terms of train paths) identified. The proposal is continuing now. As of 6 September 2007, Renaissance Trains is now planning potential train paths for Glasgow Trains to use and their operations, in accordance with Network Rail. The investment programme for Glasgow Trains includes the opening of a new parkway
Parkway
The term parkway has several distinct principal meanings and numerous synonyms around the world, for either a type of landscaped area or a type of road.Type of landscaped area:...
station on the route between Glasgow and Liverpool.