Grand Central's service was due to begin in late 2006, but it has been hit by delays.

The company said it was still awaiting delivery of revamped rolling stock.

Managing director Tim Clift apologised for the continued delays.

The three-times daily East Coast Main Line service will call at stations in Teesside and North Yorkshire. These include Hartlepool, Eaglescliffe, Northallerton, Thirsk and York, and maybe Seaham.

Mr Clift said the delays were caused by contractors who had been unable to meet completion dates for rolling stock which was being refurbished.

He said: "As a result, our earlier predictions about a service launch have been thwarted, and as slippage in deliveries of the vehicles continues, we cannot set a launch date in stone until we actually have enough vehicles delivered, tested, approved and fit to use.

"It seems we should have enough vehicles to start an interim service in mid-November, from which we should be able to ramp up to a full service a month later."