Seaham celebrates first-ever direct train link to London with historic Grand Central launch

• Open access operator Grand Central this week launches its first-ever direct services between Seaham and London
• At a celebration event held at the station today, local MP Grahame Morris joined councillors and businesses to applaud one of the first services into the station
• This historic launch will provide four new services to London, cementing Grand Central’s role in connecting underserved communities and boosting regional growth

Open access operator Grand Central has launched the first-ever direct services between Seaham and London, in a boost to the town’s regional connectivity.

A celebration event took place at Seaham station today to mark the historic occasion, attended by local MP Grahame Morris and other local councillors and businesses, who heralded the new services as “invaluable” for the local community.

Attendees applauded the 10:41am service from Seaham to London into the station, before Grahame Morris MP stepped on board to travel to Parliament, and made a tannoy announcement to celebrate the new services.  

Previously, passengers from Seaham would have had to change services to travel to London, with the journey taking up to four hours. Now, the new direct service will enable passengers to shave 35 minutes off their journeys.

This new service builds on Grand Central’s proud history of bolstering regional connectivity in the North East, providing direct services from historically underconnected areas like Sunderland, Hartlepool and Eaglescliffe into London.  Its services play an essential role in boosting regional growth, supporting an area outside London with a combined GDP of £113bn.

Earlier this year, Arriva, which operates Grand Central, placed an order for £300 million-worth of tri-mode new trains for Grand Central routes following the extension of its track access rights. These trains will be manufactured in the North East at Hitachi Rail’s Newton Aycliffe facility, and bolster connectivity by increasing seats by 20%.

Services provided by Grand Central can work in tandem with the new Great British Railways, enhancing and complementing the UK Government’s rail nationalisation plans, ensuring that the rail network is making the best possible use of its capacity.

To extend the celebrations, on Friday 19th December, Grand Central will also be giving out free hot chocolate at the Seaham Seaside Market on Church Street, to raise awareness of the new route and ensure Seaham residents know the benefits of this fantastic new connection.

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.”

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.”

 
Notes to editors: 

• Photos from the launch event today (15th December) are attached below.