Regulator Denies Open Access Proposal for West Coast Main Line Train Services
According to a recent report from the Office of Rail & Road (ORR), three companies have had their requests for track access contracts on the West Coast Main Line turned down. This decision stems from concerns about insufficient capacity on the southern segment of this busy route.
The ORR announced it’s findings on July 3, stating that allowing any of these proposed services could negatively impact performance across the entire line, affecting both passengers and freight operations.
The applications came from FirstGroup’s Lumo brand, virgin Trains—looking to re-enter the rail market after previously operating in this space—and a joint venture between Alstom and SLC Rail known as Wrexham, Shropshire & Midlands Railway (WSMR).
| Proposed Services by Applicants | |
|---|---|
| Virgin Trains | Liverpool Lime Street – London Euston (nine trains daily), manchester Victoria – London Euston (five trains daily), and Birmingham New Street – London Euston (four trains daily).Each service was requested to be evaluated independently. |
| Wrexham, Shropshire & Midlands Railway | London Euston – Wrexham (five trains/day; four on Sundays) |
| Lumo NW | London Euston – Rochdale (six trains/day; five on Sundays) |
The ORR expressed general support for open access but concluded that current network capacity is inadequate. They emphasized that adding new services would compromise overall performance. Network Rail also raised concerns regarding capacity limitations.
The Department for Transport weighed in against Virgin and Lumo’s proposals due to fears they might siphon revenue away from existing operators. However,they did back WSMR’s application as it seemed more likely to meet financial stability criteria.In June, DfT cautioned ORR about potential negative impacts open access operators could have on industry finances.
Citing its statutory responsibilities, ORR clarified that it couldn’t approve these applications solely based on capacity issues—financial considerations were not part of their decision-making process.
Reactions to the Decision
The Department for Transport responded positively towards open access initiatives when they promote growth and enhance passenger options but reiterated their stance against proposals that threaten existing revenue streams.They noted their support for WSMR’s application despite its rejection.
A spokesperson for WSMR expressed deep disappointment over losing what was seen as a promising opportunity backed by local communities and stakeholders who believed collaboration could alleviate performance concerns while improving service quality.
“We’re eager to reconnect with ORR,” said a representative from WSMR regarding future steps related to this essential passenger service.”
“FirstGroup remains optimistic about exploring other opportunities along the London-Rochdale route,” stated one company official who believes such routes can still pass financial assessments without jeopardizing existing services. “The independent regulator plays an essential role in ensuring balance among various network users.”
A spokesperson from Virgin Group lamented this outcome as detrimental to consumer choice and competition within rail travel. They argued that their proposed offerings would have significantly increased seat availability while maintaining high standards of reliability—a win-win situation for both customers and taxpayers alike.
“Given our track record,” they added confidently, “we believe our routes could greatly contribute toward enhancing train services across Britain.” Now shifting focus towards launching operations through the Channel Tunnel seems like their next strategic move rather!
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