The introduction of new direct train services from London to Wrexham and Rochdale has been halted due to capacity issues on the West Coast Main Line. The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has determined that the current infrastructure cannot support these additional services without risking delays and compromising reliability.
The proposed plans aimed to establish a new direct link between the Welsh town of Wrexham and the capital, as well as a Lumo service connecting Rochdale to London. However, following a detailed assessment, the ORR concluded that there is insufficient capacity to incorporate these routes without disrupting the existing schedule.
In addition to the rejection of the Wrexham and Rochdale services, plans for extra London-Blackpool trains were also turned down. The ORR emphasized the importance of maintaining timetable gaps, which are essential for allowing trains to recover from any disruptions and preventing delays from cascading through the network.
This decision reaffirms the ORR’s stance from earlier refusals of similar proposals, with the regulator noting that there have been no significant changes in capacity and performance conditions on the southern section of the West Coast Main Line since past assessments.
Despite these rejections, the ORR has approved one additional evening service from London to Chester, operated by Avanti. This service will utilize a train that would otherwise travel empty back to a depot, thus providing an opportunity to carry passengers on this journey.