(16 Aug 2013, 11:26 am)cbma06 wrote Sunderland to London rail services looks to secure future

THE firm behind Sunderland’s rail link to London wants to guarantee its future for another decade.


Grand Central is planning major investments if it gets the green light to extend its permission to run the service until 2026.

The company is an open-access train operator, which means it runs services under a Track Access Contract approved by the national Office of Rail Regulation.

The current arrangement expires in 2016.

A 28-day consultation is now under way and will run until 5pm on Monday, September 2.

Full article from Sunderland Echo:

http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/busin...-1-5960848

According to Wikipedia, only 14 class 180 sets were built.
They have led a nomadic life, but I wonder where Grand Central are planning to get the others from, to fulfil their ambition of having a standardised fleet?
First Hull have 4 and First Great Western 5.