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A commuter train running between Manchester and London will operate without passengers for approximately five months due to a directive from the rail regulator. The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has ruled that Avanti West Coast’s 07:00 GMT train from Manchester Piccadilly to London will continue to run but solely for staff transport starting mid-December.
Avanti West Coast expressed disappointment with this decision, emphasizing that it would have a direct impact on passengers who currently use the service. In contrast, the ORR justified its decision by citing strong evidence from Network Rail, highlighting concerns about potential disruptions on the West Coast Main Line if the service were to run with passengers during the new timetable period.
Despite the change, the fast service—which usually reaches London in under two hours—will still depart from Manchester Piccadilly at 07:00 on weekdays. However, no paying commuters will be allowed on board during this time. Instead, the train will carry Avanti staff between the two cities, meaning the service could complete over 100 trips without any passengers during this period.
Besides the morning Manchester-London service, ORR has also required other modifications. For instance, a Sunday service that currently runs from Holyhead to London will now terminate at Crewe instead. Avanti outlined additional removed services, including the 12:52 Blackpool North to London Euston, the 09:39 London Euston to Blackpool North, and the 19:32 Chester to London Euston, all Monday to Friday. While disappointed, Avanti noted it will still introduce more trains across its network, including new services on the Liverpool route.
An ORR spokesperson explained that the decision aimed to prevent operational issues. They stated that fitting additional services into ‘firebreak’ paths on the West Coast Main Line could negatively affect overall performance. By running the train as empty coaching stock (ECS), it is easier to delay or reroute the service if needed, which helps manage disruptions more effectively.
Previously, Avanti was granted access rights for this service only for one timetable period starting May 2025, when First Lumo’s Stirling services were not yet active. However, as First Lumo is expected to begin operating their open access services during the December 2025 timetable, the ORR’s decision aligns with these upcoming changes on the network
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
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