RAIL firm Grand Central has successfully completed the first trial runs of its new service from Sunderland to London Kings Cross.

The company has been running one train a day over the past fortnight down to the capital in a bid to ensure a smooth launch date next month.

Grand Central hopes the trial runs will help its staff familiarise themselves with the route, which includes stops at Hartlepool, Eaglescliffe, Northallerton and Thirsk stations.

Trains were hired from leasing firm Direct Rail Services especially for the trials and only ran at 95mph, not the usual top speed of 125mph.

Ian Yeowart, the managing director of Grand Central, revealed that the handover of its own rolling stock to be used by the company for the new service was imminent.

Delays to refurbishment work on six power cars and 18 passenger carriages earlier this year forced its planned launch date to be moved back from May to September.

Grand Central is expected to make a further announcement about its new thrice daily services on Wednesday.

Mr Yeowart said: "It will be nice when everything comes together and we are ready to go, because it has all taken an age.

"We had a few teething problems with the trial runs to start with, although they were nothing to do with us, but they have settled down since and gone okay.

"It's been good for the staff as it gives them hands on experience and helps the familiarisation process."

Grand Central, which is based in York, fought off a legal challenge from East Coast Mainline GNER to win permission from rail chiefs to run its trains as an open access operator.

It is creating up to 40 jobs in the region and has promised value for money, as well as an easy to understand ticketing structure.