Grand Union has advised the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) that it intends to seek access rights to operate services into West Yorkshire from London Euston via the West Coast Main Line (WCML).

Services would operate non-stop between Euston and Stockport, and then call at Guide Bridge and Huddersfield with services extending to Halifax and Bradford Interchange.

Grand Union is seeking to commence services in 2011/2012, using new build 140mph “Polaris” trains, which are also scheduled to replace Grand Central’s HST fleet in 2010.

The current WCML franchised operator has protection against competition on the route until 2012, and new services will be developed to be operational as that protection falls away.