Bid to run new trains on West Coast Mainline refused
Summary
The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has rejected proposals to add new train services on the West Coast Main Line between London and several towns including Wrexham, Rochdale, and Blackpool. The regulator said adding more trains would increase delays and cancellations because the current timetable needs space to recover from disruptions.Key Facts
- The ORR denied plans for four daily round-trip trains between Wrexham and London Euston by Wrexham, Shropshire and Midlands Railway.
- Lumo’s proposal for up to four return services between Rochdale and London on weekdays and Saturdays, and three on Sundays, was also rejected.
- Avanti West Coast’s plans for extra trains between Blackpool and London Euston were refused as well.
- The West Coast Main Line is heavily used and under pressure, with limited ability to manage delays.
- The ORR said gaps in the timetable help trains recover after disruptions, reducing delays for passengers.
- Adding more trains would reduce this recovery time, causing delays to spread and making the network less reliable.
- Similar applications to run new services were also rejected by the ORR in 2025.
- The decision is based on the goal to keep the rail network dependable for all users.
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