A call for long term support for Britain鈥檚 open access rail operators has been made after services were once again suspended for lockdown.
Hull Trains and Grand Central have confirmed they will not be running during the second nationwide attempt to quell the spread of coronavirus.
Unlike franchise operators, they were left out in the cold when it came to the first lockdown, with rail union RMT describing them as the 鈥減oor relation in terms of support for the rail sector鈥.
An Early Day Motion has attracted 27 signatures in the House of Commons, while a .
RMT general secretary, Mick Cash, said: 鈥溾漅MT is calling for more government support for these essential services between Humberside, West Yorkshire, the north east of England and London consistent with statements about levelling up the country.
鈥淲e are talking about the long term future of important transport links to the north backed by the 5,800 people who have signed an RMT petition calling for government support for the services provided by open access operators.
鈥淩MT is building political support behind the House of Commons early day motion which has been signed by members of all parties, including the Tories, and we will do everything in our power to secure the futures of the staff working on Hull Trains and Grand Central.鈥
The majority of the 130 staff at Hull Trains were furloughed as the operating model relies purely on ticket sales, with pleas made then falling on deaf ears, despite the efforts of local MPs and the Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce. It was chief executive Dr Ian Kelly who launched the petition back in March.
Services were reintroduced in August, with a 50 per cent capacity.
Managing director Louise Cheeseman warned the First Group-owned entity was 鈥渘ot out of the woods鈥 then.
From Thursday no services will run between Hull and King鈥檚 Cross.
In a statement, the company said: 鈥淲e are sorry to announce that Hull Trains is temporarily suspending all services as a result of the new nationwide lockdown from 00.01 on Thursday, November 5, until further notice.
鈥淭hank you to everyone who has travelled with us since August. Please stay safe and we look forward to seeing you on our services again in the future. We plan to return to service as soon as we can."
For those with bookings for travel in the lockdown period - due to lift on December 2 - information on refunds will be issued shortly.
Hull Trains has been contacted, but prior on Twitter, Mrs Cheeseman added: "Thank you to everyone that has supported the relaunch of Hull Trains. Your kind works have been overwhelming. I'm so sad for everyone that鈥檚 worked so hard to get us back up and running, to announce our services are being suspended again. Be assured we will be back!"
York-based Grand Central operates from Sunderland and Bradford to King鈥檚 Cross, and is owned by Arriva 海角视频.
It has already withdrawn plans for a Blackpool to London service after Covid-19 rendered plans 鈥渦nfeasible鈥. It had, however, returned to pre-pandemic service levels between West Yorkshire and the capital, only reducing last week when South Yorkshire was placed in Tier Three.
