Grand Central voted best long distance and value for money train company

Grand Central has been voted best long distance operator for the ninth time and best for value for money in a national survey of rail users.

 
Transport Focus today (28 January) released figures for its twice yearly National Rail Passenger Survey (NRPS) for Autumn 2019. The National Rail Passenger Survey reveals that Grand Central was the best long distance operator for the ninth time, scoring 94%. The York-based open access operator was also rated best overall for value for money, scoring 75%, compared with a national average of 47% and a long distance average of 56%.

Grand Central has recently completed its £9million Adelante train refurbishment programme, an area which has seen significant increases in satisfaction levels. With regards to train upkeep, there was a 14% year on year increase, with the operator scoring 92% satisfaction. Interior cleanliness rose 11% year on year, with a customer satisfaction level of 94%, and the availability of power sockets saw passenger satisfaction levels increase by 14% year on year to 87%.

Richard McClean, Managing Director at Grand Central, said: “We’re absolutely delighted that once again we’ve been named as the number one long distance train company in the country with a score of 94% and to be rated best for overall value for money at 75%.

"What matters to our customers matters to us – a good service at a good price. We’re proud of our track record and our commitment to customer experience, but we can always do more to deliver more benefits for our passengers and great quality services at the heart of communities we serve.

“We have just completed the £9million refurbishment of our entire fleet of trains. We’re also bringing additional services to our North East route and will launch our new route from Blackpool to Euston in Spring 2020.

“Together with investments in online systems and our £2.6million station investment programme across our North East and West Riding routes, we’re confident that our customers will continue to see improving benefits to travelling on our services.”

Grand Central, part of the Arriva group, is an established train operator which provides direct rail connections between towns and cities in Yorkshire and the North East and London.

To find out more about Grand Central, please visit www.grandcentralrail.com or follow the railway company on Twitter @GC_Rail, Facebook or LinkedIn.

Notes to editors:

Grand Central Railway Company Limited is an established train operator which provides direct rail connections from towns and cities in Yorkshire and the North East England with London.

Customer satisfaction levels are consistently high and the rail company was named Britain’s best value rail operator for the ninth time in Autumn 2019 National Rail Passenger Survey.

Grand Central operates West Riding services between Bradford Interchange, Low Moor, Halifax, Brighouse, Mirfield, Wakefield Kirkgate, Pontefract Monkhill, Doncaster and London King’s Cross. The rail operator also operates North East services between Sunderland, Hartlepool, Eaglescliffe, Northallerton, Thirsk, York and London King’s Cross. Grand Central will start operating services on the North West between Blackpool, Poulton-le-Fylde, Kirkham and Wesham, Preston, Nuneaton, Milton Keynes and London Euston from Spring 2020.

Grand Central is part of the Arriva group. Arriva is one of the leading providers of passenger transport in Europe, employing over 53,000 people and delivering 2 billion passenger journeys a year across 14 European countries. We are part of Deutsche Bahn (DB), one of the world’s leading passenger and logistics companies, and are responsible for DB's regional passenger transport services outside Germany.

For further information, please contact: 
Sarah Banks/Anna Hodgson 
PR Account Director
0191 261 4250
GrandCentral@gardiner-richardson.com
sarahb@gardiner-richardson.com
annah@gardiner-richardson.com