Plans for new train services between London and Wrexham, Rochdale and Blackpool have been rejected by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR). The proposal to add more trains on the West Coast Main Line would "likely increase delays and cancelled trains for passengers", the regulator said. It rejected Wrexham, Shropshire and Midlands Railway's application for four daily Wrexham to London Euston return services, as well as Lumo's proposal for up to four return services between Rochdale and Euston on weekdays and Saturdays, and three on Sundays.
Avanti West Coast's plans for additional services between Blackpool and Euston were also denied by the ORR. The regulator said: "Gaps in the current timetable need to provide important space for trains to recover when disruption occurs, minimising delays to passengers. "ORR concluded that adding more services into these windows in the timetable for recovery would reduce that resilience, increasing the risk of disruption spreading to other services and affecting more passengers." Stephanie Tobyn, from the ORR, said: "New services, destinations and greater choice can bring real benefits for passengers and communities.
"But the West Coast Main Line is already under significant pressure, with performance reflecting limited resilience on a heavily used part of the rail network. "Our detailed analysis has shown that adding more trains to the current timetable would reduce the ability to recover when disruption occurs, increasing the risk of delays spreading and making reliability of the network worse for all passengers." The ORR said its assessment and decision came after similar applications were rejected in 2025. Tell us which stories we should cover in Lancashire Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, external, X, external and Instagram, external.
You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230. Plan to run new trains from London to Rochdale Bid to revive Blackpool to London lunchtime train What is different about new direct rail bid? Funding secured for long-delayed railway station Direct London trains 'could start in 2026'
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