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A rail route that carries commuters from Manchester to London is set to run empty for around a five-month period due to a decision by the railway oversight authority.

A ruling by the rail regulatory body implies the 07:00 GMT service operated by the rail operator from Manchester's main station to London will still operate but will only be used to carry employees starting mid-December.

An Avanti West Coast spokesperson expressed they were "let down" with the outcome, which would "definitely affect those passengers who already use these trains".

An ORR official indicated the decision was based on "robust evidence" from Network Rail to prevent potential operational issues on the West Coast Main Line.

Network Rail declined to comment.

Details of the Operational Adjustments

The fast service, which reaches London in under two hours, will continue to leave from Manchester Piccadilly at 7:00 AM on four weekdays, but will not open to commuters.

It will, alternatively, transport Avanti staff from Manchester to London when the new timetable takes effect on December 15th.

The decision means the train could operate for more than 100 journeys without paying passengers on board.

An Avanti West Coast representative clarified they were displeased with the ORR's decision not to grant access rights from the winter period for several daily trains they currently operated, such as the 7:00 AM fast service from London from Manchester.

The ORR also required a weekend train which presently operates from Holyhead to London to terminate at Crewe station, they noted.

"It will clearly impact those passengers who already use these services," they said.

"Nonetheless, we will continue to provide even more trains across our network from the beginning of the winter schedule, featuring more extra trains on our Liverpool line."

The representative confirmed that the trains being removed were:

• 7:00 AM GMT: Manchester Piccadilly to Euston station (Weekdays)
• 12:52 PM GMT: Blackpool station – Euston station (Monday to Friday)
• 9:39 AM GMT: Euston station – Blackpool North (Weekdays)
• 19:32 GMT: Chester station – Euston station (Weekdays)
• 17:53 GMT: Holyhead station – Euston station ends at Crewe (Sundays)

Regulatory Rationale

An ORR spokesperson explained: "Our ruling on the London-Manchester train was based on comprehensive data submitted by the infrastructure operator that introducing trains within 'firebreak' paths on the main rail line would have a detrimental impact on reliability.

"It was determined that this train would operate within one of those paths. If Avanti runs the service as empty coaching stock (ECS), ECS can be operated with greater flexibility (held back or redirected) than a booked passenger service.

"This can assist with performance management and service recovery during disruption."

The regulator indicated the operator was previously given the permission to run this service from May 2025 for the duration of one timetable period only.

This was on the basis that another operator's Scottish trains were not operating at the moment but the those trains are expected to begin operating during the December 2025 schedule update.

The ORR noted that under the updated schedule, additional independent train services, operated by the competing operator to Stirling, were due to start.