First Harrogate Trains

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}}

{{Use British English|date=December 2016}}

{{Infobox Rail companies

|name = First Harrogate Trains

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|logo_filename = Firstharrogatetrains.png

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|widthpx =

|caption =

|franchise = Open access operator

|nameforarea =

|regions = Harrogate Line
East Coast Main Line

|abbr =

|secregions =

|stationsop =

|fleet =

|parent_company = FirstGroup (80%)
Renaissance Trains (20%)

|website = www.harrogatetrains.co.uk

|map = {{First Harrogate Trains}}

}}

First Harrogate Trains[http://data.companieshouse.gov.uk/doc/company/06592311 Companies House extract company no 6592311] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303233300/http://data.companieshouse.gov.uk/doc/company/06592311 |date=3 March 2016 }} First Harrogate Trains Limited was a proposed open access operator with ambitions to run passenger rail services between Harrogate and London King's Cross via York.{{cite magazine |title= Three companies want East Coast paths |magazine=Today's Railways UK |issue=78|date=June 2008 |page=6}}{{cite magazine |title= Hull Trains applies to serve Harrogate four times a day |magazine=Rail Magazine |issue=594|date=18 June 2008 |page=12}}[https://web.archive.org/web/20080820070526/http://www.harrogateadvertiser.net/business/Trains-firm-aims-to-boost.4257466.jp Train firm aims to boost London link] Harrogate Advertiser 4 July 2008[https://web.archive.org/web/20080919022610/http://www.thepress.co.uk/news/3563112.Poppleton_to_London_direct/ Poppleton to London direct] The Press (York) 1 August 2008 The company was a subsidiary of Hull Trains, then owned by FirstGroup (80%) and Renaissance Trains (20%).

The company proposed to run from Harrogate to London King's Cross with up to four services each way per day. The application to run trains was rejected by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) in February 2009.{{url|https://web.archive.org/web/20090302220751/http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.9471|ORR announces its decision on East Coast Main Line track access applications}} Office of Rail Regulation 27 February 2009 It cited that the services would not bring enough new patronage and thus rely on abstracting revenue from existing train operating companies.{{cite magazine |title= Grand Northern set for Bradford |magazine=Rail Magazine |issue=611|date=11 February 2009 |page=20}}

First Harrogate Trains also applied to operate four trains per day from {{rws|Cleethorpes}} to London Kings Cross, with an additional four between Lincoln Central and London, and to open a new station at Donnington Parkway. In 2009, this application was rejected by the ORR.[http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/s18-ECML-Hull_Trains.pdf Hull Trains - Track Access Rights on the East Coast Main Line] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080625114115/http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/s18-ECML-Hull_Trains.pdf |date=25 June 2008 }} Office of the Rail Regulator 19 March 2008

Had the proposal been successful, it was intended that services would commence in the summer of 2009.[https://web.archive.org/web/20090504215039/http://www.harrogatetrains.co.uk/ Home] Harrogate Trains