ORR blocks new train services on West Coast Main Line over delays
Capacity concerns lead to rejection of Wrexham, Rochdale and Blackpool applications
The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has rejected proposals for new train services on the West Coast Main Line, citing potential increases in delays and cancelled trains for passengers.
Applications from the Wrexham, Shropshire & Midlands Railway Company (WSMR) for Wrexham to London Euston services, Lumo for Rochdale to Euston services, and Avanti West Coast for Blackpool to Euston services have been denied.
ORR's assessment concluded that adding new services to the southern section of the line would likely cause disruptions, as gaps in the current timetable serve as crucial recovery spaces for trains during disruptions.
Despite the rejection of additional services, ORR has approved Avanti’s Chester to Euston service to carry passengers until December 2030, converting a service that already operates empty.
Stephanie Tobyn, ORR’s director of strategy, policy and reform, emphasized that new service proposals must consider the existing pressures on the network to ensure reliability for passengers.
This decision follows the rejection of similar applications in 2025, underscoring the challenges of accommodating additional services on the heavily utilized West Coast Main Line.