Platinum Trains
Encyclopedia
Platinum Trains was a proposed new open access train operating company
that intended to run limited-stop train services from Scotland
to London
via the East Coast Main Line
. Its plan was to compete with air travel.
The company proposed to use two Class 180
units to operate two outbound and return journeys per day weekdays and one outbound and return per day at weekends between Aberdeen
and London King's Cross, calling at Edinburgh
and Dundee
. The company anticipated placing an order for new rolling stock in the first year of operation with introduction into service in the third or fourth year.
In February 2009, the application to operate trains was denied by the Office of Rail Regulation
(ORR), along with that of First Harrogate Trains
. Difficulties had been highlighted in finding additional "paths" for the trains to operate in along the busy East Coast Main Line. In a letter from the Department for Transport to the Office of Rail Regulation in January 2009, it was noted that "the Platinum Trains proposal does not appear to be compatible with Transport Scotland’s franchised service specification between Aberdeen and Edinburgh, and we find it difficult to see how a non-stop path could be achieved south of Edinburgh without use of excessive pathing time which could present operational difficulties due to persistent early running."
Train operating company
The term train operating company is used in the United Kingdom to describe the various businesses operating passenger trains on the railway system of Great Britain under the collective National Rail brand...
that intended to run limited-stop train services from Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
via the East Coast Main Line
East Coast Main Line
The East Coast Main Line is a long electrified high-speed railway link between London, Peterborough, Doncaster, Wakefield, Leeds, York, Darlington, Newcastle and Edinburgh...
. Its plan was to compete with air travel.
The company proposed to use two Class 180
British Rail Class 180
The Class 180 is a type of British diesel multiple unit train built by Alstom between 2000 and 2001 for use on then-new express services by First Great Western . They were built at Washwood Heath in Birmingham and are part of the Coradia 1000 family along with the Class 175. FGW stopped using the...
units to operate two outbound and return journeys per day weekdays and one outbound and return per day at weekends between Aberdeen
Aberdeen railway station
Aberdeen railway station is the main railway station in Aberdeen, Scotland. It is the busiest railway station in Scotland north of the major cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh.- History :...
and London King's Cross, calling at Edinburgh
Edinburgh Waverley railway station
Edinburgh Waverley railway station is the main railway station in the Scottish capital Edinburgh. Covering an area of over 25 acres in the centre of the city, it is the second-largest main line railway station in the United Kingdom in terms of area, the largest being...
and Dundee
Dundee railway station
Dundee railway station serves the city of Dundee on the east coast of Scotland. The station has two through platforms and two terminal platforms...
. The company anticipated placing an order for new rolling stock in the first year of operation with introduction into service in the third or fourth year.
In February 2009, the application to operate trains was denied by the Office of Rail Regulation
Office of Rail Regulation
The Office of Rail Regulation is a statutory board which is the combined economic and safety regulatory authority for Great Britain's railway network. It was established on 5 July 2004 by the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003, replacing the Rail Regulator...
(ORR), along with that of First Harrogate Trains
First Harrogate Trains
First Harrogate Trains was a proposed open-access UK train operating company. They planned to run regular direct rail services between Harrogate and London....
. Difficulties had been highlighted in finding additional "paths" for the trains to operate in along the busy East Coast Main Line. In a letter from the Department for Transport to the Office of Rail Regulation in January 2009, it was noted that "the Platinum Trains proposal does not appear to be compatible with Transport Scotland’s franchised service specification between Aberdeen and Edinburgh, and we find it difficult to see how a non-stop path could be achieved south of Edinburgh without use of excessive pathing time which could present operational difficulties due to persistent early running."