York to Kings Cross with Grand Central in 1st Class - is this small operator any good?

Grand Central are one of the small train operators in the UK that have carved out a niche to support travellers with a specific need for direct services to London from the North East stations that are not served by electric trains on the East Coast Mainline.

They provide the service using the Class 180 "Adelante" diesel-hydraulic 5-car units that have had quite a chequered past on UK railways. however, these units have been refurbished fairly recently and I needed to be heading back home from York. So why not give Grand Central a go?

Departure: York, England, UK
Destination: London King's Cross, England, UK
Distance: 303 km / 188.5 miles
Duration: 2 hrs 5 mins
Cost: 1st class advance single, with 1/3 railcard discount: £41.25 / €47,00
Date of Travel: February 2023
Operator: Grand Central by arriva
Motive power: Class 180 "Adelante" 5-car DMU. Built: Alstom (2001-2002)

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