The UK's Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has rejected proposals for new direct train services from London to Wrexham and Rochdale, citing significant pressure and limited resilience on the West Coast Main Line. The regulator stated that adding more trains would compromise the reliability of the network.
The rejection of new train services highlights the capacity constraints on the UK's West Coast Main Line, potentially impacting regional economic development and passenger choice. It underscores the challenges faced by private operators in expanding open-access routes within a heavily utilized network.
Plans for new direct train services from London to Wrexham and Rochdale have been rejected by the UK's rail regulator, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), due to significant pressure on the West Coast Main Line. The ORR stated that there is insufficient space on the crowded line to accommodate the proposed services, which would also risk the reliability of the wider railway network.
Last year, the ORR had already rejected plans for a new independent open access service between Wrexham and London proposed by the Wrexham, Shropshire & Midlands Railway Company (WSMR). Despite WSMR submitting slightly revised plans for a less frequent service, the ORR maintained that the new routes would still jeopardize the network's reliability.
The potential new services could have allowed Wrexham to further benefit from its recent surge in popularity, partly fueled by its football club co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. Similarly, proposals for a new Lumo service between London and Rochdale, which had already been slimmed down after a previous rejection in 2025, were once again denied.
Avanti West Coast also had its request for additional London-Blackpool services rejected. However, the ORR did approve one extra London-Chester evening service for Avanti, which would have otherwise operated as a "ghost train" returning north overnight. This decision follows public outcry over a previous ORR ruling that barred a Manchester-London service from carrying passengers.
According to the ORR, its assessment, supported by external reviews, indicates that the capacity and performance of the southern section of the West Coast Main Line have not materially improved since similar applications were rejected in 2025. The regulator emphasized the need for timetable gaps to allow trains to recover from disruptions, preventing the escalation of delays and maintaining network reliability for all passengers.
Stephanie Tobyn, ORR’s director of strategy, policy and reform, commented that while new services offer benefits, the West Coast Main Line is already under considerable strain. She added that the analysis showed that adding more trains would reduce recovery capabilities during disruptions, increasing the risk of widespread delays and worsening overall network reliability.
Private operators like First Group, which owns Lumo, have been exploring increased open-access routes as part of the transition to Great British Railways. London-Wrexham direct trains previously operated as an open-access service from 2008 to 2011 but ceased due to financial losses.
Pick the topics you care about. Get only what matters, on your cadence.