First Hull Trains

Franchise(s):	Open-access operator Not subject to franchising 2002 – 2016
Main route(s):	London - Hull
Other route(s):	None
Fleet size:	5 Class 180 Adelante sets[1]
Stations called at:	9
National Rail abbreviation:	HT
Parent company:	First Group / Renaissance Trains
Web site:	www.hulltrains.co.uk

First Hull Trains route map
Hull Paragon Brough Howden Selby Doncaster Retford Grantham Stevenage ^ London Kings Cross ^ Pick up northbound, set down southbound; selected weekday services only

First Hull Trains is a train operating company in the United Kingdom, running up to seven long distance services each day between London King's Cross and Hull. The company also serves the towns of Stevenage, Grantham, Retford, Doncaster, Selby, Howden and Brough. It is jointly owned by First Group (80%) following the buyout of its previous parent company GB Railways, and Renaissance Trains (20%).^[2]

First Hull Trains is one of the three ‘open access’ rail operators in the UK meaning that instead of owning a franchise and operating a level of service laid down by the Strategic Rail Authority, it applied for, and was awarded in 2002, access rights for 10 years by the Office of the Rail Regulator.^[3] This was extended to December 2014 in January 2009,^[4] and in March 2009 was further extended to 2016.^[5]

Contents 1 Service Levels 2 Performance 3 2008 rebranding 4 Possible future expansion 5 Rolling stock 5.1 Prolonged absence of 222103 5.2 Class 180 'Adelantes' 5.3 Current fleet 5.4 Past fleet 6 Notes 7 External links

Service Levels

In 2001 when First Hull Trains first began to operate they ran 3 return services a day using Class 170 Turbostars. With the Introduction of the Class 222 Pioneers the service levels had increased to 6 return services a day by 2006. By 2008 this number had increased to 7 return services a day using faster and better equipped Class 222 Pioneers. In 2009 Hull Trains is campaigning to increase this number yet further to 8 services a day to provide a regular 2 hourly pattern, using Class 180 Adelantes

Performance

The latest performance figures for First Hull Trains to be released by the ORR as of the third quarter of the financial year 2008/9 are 84.9% PPM and 87.4% MAA.^[6] These figures are up on those of last quarter and the last 12 months respectively. This can be attributed to the new addition of the Class 180s to their rolling stock.

2008 rebranding

In June 2008 Hull Trains was rebranded from Hull Trains to First Hull Trains. This is to a move by First Group to bring Hull Trains in line with its other rail companies. Staff will be given First Group uniforms and trains will gain First Group colours later in the year.^[7]

Possible future expansion

In 2008, First Hull Trains revealed that they were applying for track access rights to run services between Harrogate and London via York called First Harrogate Trains,^[8] and from Cleethorpes to London via Lincoln and Spalding.^[9]

In January 2009, the ORR released some proposed decisions on the ECML route planning and TOCS. The application for First Harrogate Trains on the plan is to rejected, however it still could be a company, as these decisions are not final. The final decision will be announced in late February 2009.^[10]

First Hull Trains hope to soon achieve a regular two hourly service from Hull to Kings Cross. This would provide benefits to commuters and pleasure travellers alike with the added benefits of earlier and later arrivals and departures from both London and Hull.^[11]

Rolling stock

First Hull Trains currently operate five Class 180 Adelante diesel multiple units. They currently have one Class 222/1 allocated to them but this is out of service, when repaired this is due to follow the three other ex-First Hull Trains Class 222/1 units which left Hull Trains in January to join East Midlands Trains.^[12] The Class 222/1 units are similar to the Meridian units of the same class used by East Midlands Trains, and have cut the journey time between Hull and London to an average of 2 hours 40 minutes. Previously the service was operated by a fleet of 100mph Class 170 Turbostar sets. Each is named after a 'modern-day pioneer' related to Hull. The Class 180s were obtained after they were withdrawn by First Great Western to provide cover and bolster the fleet following the Crofton Works incident.

The East Coast Main Line Route Utilisation Strategy (RUS) indicated that Hull Trains would seek to replace their entire fleet of 222s with Class 180s by the end of the year.^[13] However, in the track access application dated 19 March 2008, Hull Trains indicated they would continue to use the Class 222s on the main services between London and Hull. The operator's planned additional services to Harrogate and Lincoln/Grimsby would utilise the Class 180s.^[9]

Prolonged absence of 222103

In a January 2007 incident at Crofton Works, 222103 Dr John Godber fell from lifting jacks, causing damage to two of the unit's vehicles. 8 of the jack arms collapsed damaging the undercarriage of the rear two coaches. The damaged units were inspected at Derby, where the decision was made to write the damaged vehicles off, with replacements from Bombardier ordered on a lead time of 12-14 months.

Hull Trains made many plans to replace this missing unit. An early, plan was to have a Class 442 Wessex Electric being towed by an EWS Class 67, but this was later abandoned. The next plan was to have an HST on the service, and obtained the use of two Class 43 power cars and a rake of five Mark 3 coaches. These were to be refurbished and put into service until such time as 222103 was either repaired or replaced. The power cars were due to be refurbished at Brush Traction, with an in-service date of mid 2007. This plan was dropped when it was realised the set had been doubly-allocated to CrossCountry.

Hull Trains then settled on a two stage replacement strategy by September 2007. In the short term, Hull Trains leased a Class 86 electric locomotive from the AC Locomotive Group, no.86101, and would use it to haul a rake of Mark 3 coaches, leased from Cargo D. This formation worked the train between London and Doncaster, where passengers detrained on to a Class 222 for the non-electrified branch to Hull. This train's top speed was only 110mph, meaning longer journey times. The unit would then be temporarily replaced by 125mph Class 180 Adelante DMUs, once they were returned to ROSCO Angel Trains from their operator First Great Western.^[14]

Class 180 'Adelantes'

First Hull Trains have comfirmed they will use only Class 180 'Adelante' units, and their Class 222 'Pioneer' units will go to East Midlands Trains, to help out with their stock shortages.^[15]

The first of the refurbished Adelantes for First Hull Trains, is now in service on the route and is 180113.^[16] 180113 has only currently undergone a part refurbishment, installing plug sockets to first class, installing a new coffee machine and recovering the seats and deep cleaning the carpet. Included in the full refurbishment will be many things that currently, the Adelantes are lacking, on First Great Western and Northern Rail. The refurbishment of First Hull Trains Adelantes include:

• WiFi Internet
• Installing power sockets at every seat
• Moving the First Class section to the rear coach
• Installing new coffee machines
• Installing a hot food and trolley servicing area
• Installing a kitchen
• Installing some new seating
• Repainting of the trains into a new variant of 'dynamic Lines' First livery ^[17]

When this is completed, the trains will have more seats and features than the current Class 222s.^[18] All of the Class 222 units (222101-222102 and 222104) have now gone to East Midlands Trains apart from (222103) which is currently out of service and will join East Midlands Trains later in the year.

Current fleet

Class	Image	Type	Top speed		Number	Routes operated	Built
			mph	km/h
Class 180 Adelante		diesel multiple unit	125	200	5	London King's Cross - Hull	2001

Past fleet

Class	Image	Type	Built	Withdrawn	Notes
Class 86		Electric locomotive	1966	2008	Replaced by Class 180 Adelante
Mk. 3 Coach		Passenger Rolling stock	1975 - 1978	2008
		Driving Van Trailer	1988	2008
Class 170 Turbostar		Diesel multiple unit	1998 - 1999	2004	Replaced by Class 222 Pioneer
Class 222 Pioneer		diesel multiple unit	2004	2009	Replaced by Class 180 Adelante

Notes

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Hull Trains

• First Hull Trains website
• Renaissance Trains official website

v • d • e Current train operating companies in the United Kingdom ◄ Defunct • Future ► National: Arriva Trains Wales · c2c · Chiltern Railways · CrossCountry · East Midlands Trains · First Capital Connect · First Great Western · First Hull Trains · First ScotRail · First TransPennine Express · Grand Central · Heathrow Connect · Heathrow Express · London Midland · London Overground · Merseyrail · National Express East Anglia · National Express East Coast · Northern Ireland Railways1 · Northern Rail · Southeastern · Southern · South West Trains · Virgin Trains · Wrexham & Shropshire International: Enterprise1 · Eurostar Sub-brands: Caledonian Sleeper · Gatwick Express · Island Line Trains · Night Riviera · Stansted Express 1 Operates on the Irish railway network.

v • d • e FirstGroup plc United Kingdom bus companies: First Aberdeen · First Berkshire & The Thames Valley · First Bristol · First Cymru · First Devon & Cornwall · First Eastern Counties · First Edinburgh · First Essex · First Glasgow · First Hampshire & Dorset · First Leicester · First London · First Manchester · First Potteries (First Chester & The Wirral) · First Somerset & Avon · First South Yorkshire · First West Yorkshire (First Bradford, First Calderdale & Huddersfield, First Leeds) · First York · First Student UK International bus companies: Aircoach · First Student (United States) · First Student Canada · First Transit · Greyhound Lines · BoltBus (50% with Peter Pan Bus Lines) · Greyhound Canada · Grey Goose Bus Lines · Vancouver Island Coach Lines · Voyageur Colonial Bus Lines Railway companies: First Capital Connect · FirstGBRf · First Great Western · First Hull Trains · First ScotRail · First TransPennine Express (55% with Keolis) · Heathrow Connect Annual revenue: ▲ £3,708 million GBP (2007) · Employees: 74,233 (2007) · Stock symbol: LSE: FGP · Website: www.firstgroup.com