Wrexham and Rochdale train services rejected over west coast line pressure

The rail regulator, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), has rejected plans for direct train services to Wrexham and Rochdale from London due to "significant pressure" on the west coast main line. The regulator stated that there is not enough space on the crowded line to introduce the two new separate train services. Additionally, the ORR vetoed plans for extra London-Blackpool train services wanted by Avanti.

This decision follows the rejection of a new independent open access service linking Wrexham and London by the Wrexham, Shropshire & Midlands Railway Company (WSMR). The ORR claimed that the new routes would still put the reliability of the wider railway at risk. WSMR had submitted plans for a less frequent service, but the ORR still deemed the new routes too risky for the railway's reliability.

The regulator also rebuffed proposals for a Lumo service between London and Rochdale, which had been slimmed down after being rejected in 2025. However, the ORR did approve one extra London-Chester evening service from Avanti, which would otherwise have run as a "ghost train" with crew and rolling stock returning north to the depot overnight.

The decision comes after the ORR rejected plans for a Manchester-London service last year, citing similar concerns over the capacity and performance of the southern section of the west coast main line. The regulator stated that the current timetable already has gaps to provide space for trains to recover when things go wrong, rather than causing chaos.

Stephanie Tobyn, ORR's director of strategy, policy, and reform, emphasized that while new services can bring benefits, the west coast main line is already under significant pressure. Her statement highlighted the regulator's concern that adding more trains to the current timetable would decrease the ability to recover from disruptions, increasing the risk of delays spreading and reducing the overall reliability of the network for all passengers.

Private operators like First Group, owners of Lumo, have been seeking to increase open-access routes as Labour has renationalized major rail contracts in the transition to Great British Railways. However, the ORR's decision shows the continued challenges faced by the railway network in accommodating new services without compromising its performance and reliability.