The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has turned down proposals for new rail services linking London with Rochdale, Wrexham, and Blackpool. The industry regulator warned on Thursday that introducing extra trains on the West Coast Main Line would "likely increase delays and cancelled trains for passengers."
The ORR refused an application from the Wrexham, Shropshire and Midlands Railway Company (WSMR) for four return journeys between Wrexham and London Euston. Lumo's request for up to four return services from Rochdale to Euston was also rejected, alongside Avanti West Coast's bid for additional services between Euston and Blackpool.
Stephanie Tobyn, ORR’s director of strategy, policy and reform, stated that the West Coast Main Line is "already under significant pressure." She added that the detailed analysis showed adding more trains would reduce the ability to recover from disruption, increasing the risk of delays spreading and worsening network reliability for all passengers.
The ORR noted that its assessment and decision followed similar applications being rejected in 2025.