The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has rejected applications from
three companies seeking track access contracts with Network Rail
to run services on the West Coast Main Line (WCML).
ORR concluded there is insufficient capacity on the West Coast
Main Line southern section for the introduction of any of the
proposed services: from East Coast Trains Limited (Lumo NW); the
Wrexham, Shropshire & Midlands Railway Company Limited
(WSMR); and Virgin Management Limited (Virgin). To introduce any
of these proposals would be detrimental to performance on the
WCML and therefore all passengers and freight customers.
ORR determines all track access applications in accordance with
its statutory duties. In the case of these three applications,
lack of capacity and the anticipated impact on performance alone
meant we could not approve them. As such, our duty to have regard
to the funds available to the Secretary of State was not relevant
to this decision.
ORR's assessment of these applications included their operational
viability, the benefits the services would generate, and the
often-supportive views of passengers and local stakeholders.
These factors did not alter our fundamental conclusion that the
proposed services cannot be introduced due to insufficient space
on the network and the likely detriment to train performance.
Stephanie Tobyn, ORR's director of strategy, policy and
reform, said:
"After thorough assessment of each
application, it was clear that there was insufficient capacity to
approve any of the services without a serious negative impact on
the level of train performance that passengers experience on the
West Coast Main Line.
“We recognise the potential advantages of competition on the West
Coast Main Line, which is why we approved in 2024 the new
London-Stirling services that First Group are due to start
operating in 2026. However, it is clear that the southern end of
the route requires space in the timetable to provide
resilience. Additional services within the current
timetable structure and planned capacity use would further weaken
punctuality and reliability, not just at the south end of the
WCML but elsewhere as well.”
Notes to editors
-
Decision on applications
for access to the West Coast Main Line (WCML) – letter to
applicants
- Applicants' proposed services:
-
Virgin Trains (three new service groups): VT1:
London Euston and Greater Manchester and Northwest (Preston via
Manchester Victoria – five daily services on Monday to Sunday,
and Rochdale via Manchester Victoria – two daily services on
Monday to Sunday); VT2: London Euston and Liverpool Lime Street
(nine daily services on Monday to Sunday); and VT3: London
Euston and Birmingham New Street (four daily services on Monday
to Sunday).
-
WSMR: London Euston and Wrexham (five daily
services on weekdays and Saturdays); London Euston and Wrexham
(four daily services on Sunday)
-
Lumo NW: London Euston and Rochdale (six daily
services on weekdays and Saturdays); London Euston and Rochdale
(five daily services on Sunday)
- ORR approved an application
from Grand Union Trains (GUT) in February 2024 to introduce
new open access services between London and Stirling on the
WCML. GUT's business was later acquired by First Group and the
services are expected to start operating in 2026.
-
ORR's open access
guidance
- ORR is the independent safety and economic regulator for
Britain's railways. ORR ensures that passenger train companies
and freight companies have fair access to the rail network and
that best use is made of capacity
