Open access applications denied
Regulator refuses new proposals for services on the West Coast Main Line.
By ‘Industry Update’
APPLICATIONS by Lumo, Virgin and a reconstituted WSMR to run new open access services on the West Coast Main Line have been turned down by the Office for Rail and Road. The proposals were all contested by Network Rail on the grounds that there is insufficient capacity to accommodate the services without damaging operational performance on the route.
The Lumo application by First Group was for Euston to Rochdale, with six daily return trains on weekdays and five on Sundays over a 10-year period from December 2027. The length of the contract would support the acquisition of Class 803 rolling stock similar to that already used on Lumo services between King’s Cross and Edinburgh, but with added battery capability for use on non-electrified sections of the route.
Virgin proposed three different routes operating from Euston to Preston (five services) and Rochdale via Manchester Victoria (two services), plus nine daily return services to Liverpool and four daily services to Birmingham. A10-year access agreement was sought from December 2025 using displaced Class 222‘Meridian’ DMUs, but with a commitment to replace these with electric sets once power upgrades make this possible.