Looking for advice by rail from Kings Cross to York on a Wednesday in September. Based on advance ticket prices, it's obvious that some departure times are less popular than others (and less costly). Is there any significant difference between Grand Central and East Coast lines? What is the practical difference between standard and first class for this two hour journey? What accounts for the cost being more than double? -- Thanks
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East Coast & Grand Central use exactly the same line between London & York. Network Rail - which owns and maintains the tracks on the behalf of the Government, charges the train companies access fees according to usage. Grand Central trains will come off the East Coast Main Line before it reaches Newcastle in order to serve the industrial town of Sunderland - hence the probable lower prices.
Both companies use trains that have a maximum cruising speed of 125mph. Grand Central's fleet is entirely diesel powered with High Speed Trains & Adelantes. You can see photos of them here:>http://www.docbrown.info/docspics/ArchiveSteam/train03.htm
East Coast also uses HST's - on their trains that go north of Edinburgh as these lines are not wired. However, the majority of East Coast Trains will be electric.
You can read a review of the 2 companies here:>http://www.theguardian.com/money/2012/oct/26/east-coast-grand-central-which-better