PASSENGERS were left stranded after new York rail operator Grand Central's only train broke down.

The company only began operating its Sunderland to London service - which calls in at York - on Tuesday.

But yesterday, its 6.46am service, which arrives in York at 8.18am and Kings Cross at 10.32am, was cancelled after a "technical defect" was discovered at the depot in Newcastle.

Seven passengers had bought their £64 return tickets in advance, but it is not known how many others were waiting on the platform at Sunderland, York and the other stations in the North to catch the train.

However, if they needed to reach the capital yesterday and wanted to travel at peak time, they faced paying an extra £121 for a return to travel on the National Express East Coast service from York.

Tom Clift, the operational managing director for Grand Central Railway Company Ltd, said the breakdown was "frustrating" and apologised to anyone who may have hoped to catch the service.

He said: "We're sorry for the inconvenience that has been caused and we are immensely frustrated as obviously we've only just got up and running. As we get more and more vehicles delivered from the firm that has been refurbishing them we will be less likely to be in a similar situation."

Mr Clift said all passengers who had bought their tickets in advance could be traced as the company had their contact details. He said they would be able to choose between a full refund or travelling on a different date.

He said that those who chose to transfer their tickets would be upgraded to first class.

The fault on the train was discovered as the driver started it up at the depot at Newcastle.

Mr Clift said the breakdown was due to an intermittent electrical fault.

He said he hoped the train would be running as scheduled today.