ORR Reverses Empty Train Ruling for Manchester-Euston Service

The Office of Rail and Road has reversed its decision to run the popular 7 a.m. express train from Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston empty, allowing passengers to board the service starting December 15 after widespread public backlash and intervention from government officials.

The train, operated by Avanti West Coast, covers the 184-mile route in under two hours, stopping only at Stockport and arriving in the capital before 9 a.m. It has been a key option for business travelers and others needing quick connections, including to Eurostar services at St Pancras International. The service, which resumed a full timetable in 2024 after pandemic-related pauses, typically carries passengers paying up to 193 for anytime fares.

Initially, the ORR ruled that the train would operate as empty coaching stock, carrying only staff, to preserve "firebreak" paths on the congested West Coast Main Line. These slots provide buffer time for managing disruptions, such as signal failures, by allowing non-passenger trains to be rerouted or delayed more flexibly without affecting booked services. Network Rail provided evidence that scheduling a passenger train in this window could worsen overall...