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Central Trains Companies House extract company no 3007938 Central Trains Limited was a train operating company in the United Kingdom owned by National Express that operated a variety of local and inter-regional trains from 2 March 1997 until 11 November 2007.
The company invested significantly in rolling stock, with significant orders for new trains placed and the fleet later further grown through the acquisition of trains made surplus by other companies. Despite a reduction in the area covered during the ten years of its existence, the company grew its core fleet from fewer than 300 passenger vehicles to a total of 379 – a capacity increase of over 28%. It also refurbished a number of its stations, introducing ticket gates, help points and live information boards.
Central Trains also clamped down on vandalism on its trains and fare evasion, including through a controversial poster campaign publicising the names and addresses of passengers who had been fined for not having valid tickets.
The franchise gained a reputation for poor timekeeping: its best performing period between 2000 and 2007 still saw one in six trains five minutes late or more, with punctuality dropping as low as 61% in 2003. The company also suffered from ongoing staff relations problems which led to extensive and long-lasting cancellations of Sunday services.
Following a government policy announced in 2004, Central Trains was eventually disbanded in November 2007 with its services dispersed amongst London Midland, East Midlands Trains and CrossCountry.
Services ranged from rural and local services to flagship express services originally branded as Alphaline and later developed into Central Citylink. In the West Midlands, the company also operated the extensive urban rail services under contract to the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive.
From 2003 onwards, the Central Citylink brand name was used by Central Trains to differentiate its long-distance and regional express routes from local services. The brand was used in timetables and publicity to highlight the enhanced service provided on such routes.
While there was no separate dedicated fleet, Citylink services were usually operated by Central Trains' more modern Class 170 and Class 158 diesel multiple units, featuring air-conditioning and reservable seating. At-seat catering was also provided on many services. National Express Group
Central Trains' Guide 1 timetable was designated for all Citylink services, and highlight the special features of the brand.
Additionally, direct services from Birmingham to Stansted Airport were introduced during May 1998.
During 2004, Trent Valley local services that ran generally between Stafford and Nuneaton (some extended to / from Coventry or Rugby) were discontinued due to a Driver shortage and not restored until over year later, when they were replaced by an electric service from Northampton to Crewe. Another fatality of the 'lack of Drivers' was the service between Birmingham to Stafford via Walsall, services were cut back (as today) to run between Birmingham and Rugeley Trent Valley.
Central discontinued their single Northampton service a day which ran to Nottingham (and other locations) via Birmingham once they gained the Birmingham to Northampton route from sister company Silverlink Trains in 20042005. Two trains per hour from Birmingham New Street – London Euston via Northampton was replaced by one train per hour to Northampton which connected badly with onward services to London Euston (although a few trains a day did run straight through to / from London as an unofficial joint service). The Northampton service started off as an hourly express service until it was merged with the local service to Coventry adding more journey time.
Coventry to Nottingham via Leicester services were discontinued after engineering work at Nuneaton station made it impossible for trains from Coventry to join the line towards Leicester and no attempt was ever made to rectify this. This service was restored in 2005 as an hourly shuttle to Nuneaton, with passengers requiring changing at Nuneaton for Leicester (and change again at Leicester for Nottingham).
The local service to and from Coventry to Wolverhampton calling all stations was also changed in 2004. It was split at Birmingham New Street as Central Trains starting operating Class 321 EMUs. A later development was implemented that had trains running express from New Street to Birmingham International (with some stops at Marston Green) then all stations to Coventry and services to Walsall were extended to Birmingham International calling all stations, Adderley Park station was cut down to one train per hour shortly after this.
Central Trains operated train crew depots at:
Central Trains maintained and stored trains at:
The awarding of the franchise was soon followed by multiple orders for a total of 33 new air-conditioned, 100 mph Turbostar trains, intended to boost the fleet and replace older rolling stock. Though a large number of 1980s and 1990s diesel multiple unit trains inherited from British Rail remained, the last 1960s and 70s 'slam door' trains had been retired by 2000.
Over the course of the franchise, a number of the older and trains were transferred away to other operators including Wales & Borders and One. This was balanced by the acquisition of additional Turbostar trains no longer required by sister company Midland Mainline as well as additional Class 150 and Class 158 units made surplus by other operators. Over the years, both Class 150 and 158 trains were shuffled between two and three carriage formations to meet changing needs.
The Strategic Rail Authority decision to divert rolling stock originally intended for South West Trains also saw the company benefit from a fleet of 30 new 100 mph Class 350 Desiro units, which were shared with Silverlink for use on the West Coast Main Line between Euston and Northampton/Liverpool via Tamworth.
Rolling stock in 1997 consisted entirely of trains inherited from British Rail. Some, such as Class 310 and Class 312 trains were in the process of withdrawal at privatisation. By the final months of the franchise, Central Trains had a significantly more modern fleet. It was also supplementing its fleet with and new electric trains shared with sister company Silverlink.
| 150 Sprinter | DMU | 75 | 120 | 29× 2 car 9× 3 car | Some Centro services. Dorridge/Shirley/Stratford Upon Avon/Leamington Spa – Worcester/Great Malvern/Hereford. Some non Centro routes Crewe to Skegness, Derby to Matlock and Nottingham to Worksop | 1984–1987 | |
| 153 Super Sprinter | 21 | Lincolnshire and Mid Wales rural services, Stourbridge branch line, Skegness to Crewe & Derby to Matlock and Nottingham to Birmingham New Street/Shrewsbury via Derby | 1987–1988 | ||||
| 156 Super Sprinter | 20 | Aberystwyth and Chester to Birmingham New Street, Hereford to Birmingham New Street, Birmingham New Street to Leicester, Nottingham, Lincoln Central & Grimsby Town, Nottingham to Worksop, Crewe to Skegness. | 1987–1989 | ||||
| 158 Express Sprinter | 90 | 145 | 36 | Norwich to Liverpool, Stansted to Birmingham, Nottingham to Cardiff, Grimsby to Birmingham, Birmingham to Liverpool | 1989–1992 | ||
| 310 | EMU | 75 | 121 | 10 | Already being withdrawn at privatisation, remained as backup for the newly introduced Class 323. | 1966 | |
| 312 | 90 | 145 | 4 | 1976 | |||
| 323 | 26 | Cross City Line | 1992–1995 |
| 150 Sprinter | DMU | 75 | 120 | 18× 2 car 18× 3 car | Non-electric services for Network West Midlands, plus some services to Worcester, Malvern and Hereford. | 1984–1987 | |
| 153 Super Sprinter | 16 | Lincolnshire rural services, Coventry–Nuneaton and Stourbridge branch line. | 1987–1988 | ||||
| 156 Super Sprinter | 10 | Middle-distance services, mainly in the East Midlands. | 1987–1989 | ||||
| 158 Express Sprinter | 90 | 145 | 13× 2 car 8× 3 car | Middle-distance services and some Citylink duties. | 1989–1992 | ||
| 170 Turbostar | 100 | 160 | 31× 2 car 22× 3 car | Citylink services and general use across the franchise area. | 1999–2002 | ||
| 321 | EMU | 37 (Shared with Silverlink) | Birmingham – Northampton | 1990–1991 | |||
| 323 | 90 | 145 | 26 | Cross City Line | 1992–1995 | ||
| 350/1 Desiro | 100 | 160 | 30 (Shared with Silverlink) | Electrified Citylink services from Birmingham | 2004–2005 | ||
On 11 November 2007, Central Trains ceased to exist and its services transferred to three new train operating companies:
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