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Passenger-Free Manchester-London Service Set for Five Months

11/30/2025

Summary

Story summary

The Office of Rail and Road has ordered a Manchester-to-London service to run without passengers for five months.
Starting mid-December, the 07:00 GMT service will carry Avanti staff instead of commuters.
The ORR based its decision on Network Rail evidence that adding services could disrupt the West Coast Main Line.
The service will operate on weekdays but will not carry paying passengers, affecting over 100 journeys.
First Lumo will begin open access services in December.

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Story summary

The Office of Rail and Road has ordered a Manchester-to-London service to run without passengers for five months.
Starting mid-December, the 07:00 GMT service will carry Avanti staff instead of commuters.
The ORR based its decision on Network Rail evidence that adding services could disrupt the West Coast Main Line.
The service will operate on weekdays but will not carry paying passengers, affecting over 100 journeys.
First Lumo will begin open access services in December.