Sovereign Trains is a rolling stock operating company (ROSCO) formed in 2007 as part of the same group as Grand Central. The company was initially formed to fund the purchase of rolling stock for Grand Central for its operations between London and Sunderland, which Grand Central leases from Sovereign. At present this amounts to six Class 43 power cars and 24 Mark 3 coaches to form three complete trains. However, in 2007, Sovereign entered into a partnership with Chinese manufacturer CSR Ziyang to market their new range of trains in Europe, with Grand Central committing to operate the Polaris DEMU, should its track-access agreement be extended. Grand Northern will obtain similar new build rolling stock through Sovereign Trains at the same time should it be given access to operate its services.
In 2010, Sovereign Trains sold its three HST sets to one of the major ROSCOs, Angel Trains, which then leased the sets back to Grand Central.
References[]
- Plan to buy 140mph trains for rail route to London Northern Echo, April 14, 2007
- Rail company's Chinese trains bid BBC News, April 12, 2007
- Angel Trains in Grand Central HST sale and lease-back deal Railway Gazette International, March 2, 2010
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