The UK rail regulator ORR has denied access to the West Coast Main Line for three private operators: Virgin, FirstGroup, and WSMR. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

The companies applied for open-access train paths, but the regulator cited insufficient capacity on the southern sections of the line as the main reason for rejection.

ORR denies access to West Coast Main Line
Photo: Wikipedia

Virgin planned to resume services between London and Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, and Rochdale. Lumo, a brand under FirstGroup, intended to launch a route to Rochdale, while WSMR proposed a direct connection between London and Wrexham in North Wales. However, all three applications were denied due to network congestion.

Don’t miss…Wabtec and UGL delivered the first Evolution locomotive for Pacific National

ORR Allows Access Only When Capacity Is Available

Despite denying access to the West Coast Main Line, ORR continues to support competition in the sector. In February 2024, the regulator approved Grand Union Trains’ application to operate on the London–Stirling route, which also uses the WCML. In December, FirstGroup acquired Grand Union Trains, and starting in 2026, Lumo will operate the services on that route.

East Coast Main Line Offers a Viable Alternative

As ORR’s denial of access to the West Coast Main Line is based on lack of capacity, the agency has encouraged operators to explore other routes. The East Coast Main Line (ECML) still has available slots. Hull Trains, Grand Central, and Lumo already operate on this corridor. Additionally, ORR is currently reviewing five more ECML access applications.

While WCML remains heavily congested, the UK rail market still holds strong growth potential through alternative routes and new operators entering the network.

News on railway transport, industry, and railway technologies from Railway Supply that you might have missed:

Don’t miss…Susie Container Terminal in China Begins Operations as a Logistics Testbed

Find the latest news of the railway industry in Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union and the rest of the world on our page on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, read Railway Supply magazine online.

Place your ads on webportal and in Railway Supply magazine. Detailed information is in Railway Supply media kit