ORR Reverses Decision on Empty 7am Manchester-London Train

The Office of Rail and Road has reversed its decision to bar passengers from the popular 7am Avanti West Coast train service from Manchester to London, allowing the fast weekday route to resume carrying commuters after widespread public backlash and pressure from government officials.

The service, which departs Manchester Piccadilly and arrives at London Euston in one hour and 59 minutes, was initially slated to operate empty from December 15 as part of a new timetable. The regulator had ruled that running it without passengers would provide greater flexibility during network disruptions, preserving "firebreak" slots on the West Coast Main Line for rerouting or delaying trains to maintain overall performance. Network Rail had supported Avanti's request to carry passengers, but the ORR prioritized evidence of potential reliability risks posed by the scheduled path.

The move drew sharp criticism from passengers, business travelers and northern leaders, who described it as absurd and inefficient. Online reactions highlighted the waste of resources, with one user calling it "absolutely mental" and questioning why the train would still consume energy and crew without generating...