Source link : https://london-news.net/headline-empty-trains-manchester-to-london-service-becomes-staff-shuttle-amid-operational-changes/
A train service transporting commuters between Manchester and London is set to operate empty for approximately five months, following a ruling by the rail regulatory body.
The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has determined that the 07:00 GMT service, managed by Avanti West Coast, will continue to run but will exclusively transport staff from mid-December onward.
An Avanti West Coast representative expressed their “disappointment” with this choice, emphasizing that it would “undoubtedly affect the customers who routinely utilize these services.”
A spokesperson for the ORR indicated that the decision was made based on “solid evidence” from Network Rail in order to prevent potential disruptions on the West Coast Main Line.
Network Rail chose not to comment on the matter.
The express service, which reaches London in under two hours, will still depart from Manchester Piccadilly at 07:00 on four weekdays, but it will not be accessible to regular commuters.
Instead, it will exclusively serve Avanti personnel traveling from Manchester to London when the new schedule is introduced on 15 December.
As a result of this ruling, the service could potentially conduct over 100 trips without any fare-paying passengers on board.
An Avanti West Coast representative reiterated their disappointment regarding ORR’s refusal to provide access rights from December for four weekday operations, including the key 07:00 express route to London.
Additionally, the ORR mandated that a Sunday…
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Publish date : 2025-11-29 17:16:00
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