CallySleeper
Established Member
It has now become apparent that while initial repairs to 221136 will be completed by the new timetable, the unit looks set to remain in repair until next April. This means that it is likely that the Midland Mainline HST currently leased to Virgin Cross Country will stay with Virgin until April or the next timetable change in early May.
This leaves Grand Central in the position that there is only one High Speed Train set available for lease from Midland Mainline (2 being required in daily service and one spare). Remember that even though this set currently being leased to Virgin may be returned to Midland Mainline in April or May, making it immediately available (in theory) to Grand Central, Virgin will no doubt have plans to use it once again for extra South-West services in the summer.
Front-line Grand Central staff have also yet to be recruited.
This leaves Grand Central in the position that there is only one High Speed Train set available for lease from Midland Mainline (2 being required in daily service and one spare). Remember that even though this set currently being leased to Virgin may be returned to Midland Mainline in April or May, making it immediately available (in theory) to Grand Central, Virgin will no doubt have plans to use it once again for extra South-West services in the summer.
Front-line Grand Central staff have also yet to be recruited.