Plans to scrap the 7am Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston service have been abandoned, the rail regulator has confirmed.
The move would have prevented passengers from taking the morning Avanti West Coast train, turning it into a staff only service, effectively becoming a “ghost train”.
The Office for Rail and Road (ORR) first said the move was backed by strong evidence from Network Rail, which argued the train would need to run in a “firebreak” slot on the West Coast Main Line. Running it without passengers would make it easier to delay or reroute, helping improve overall performance on the line, the ORR said.
But the rail regulator has now decided against the timetable change, which was supposed to take effect in mid-December, after receiving feedback.
"We have taken account of all the evidence and feedback, and we have given Network Rail and Avanti the go-ahead to arrange for the 7am service to continue running with passengers," the regulator said in a statement.
The service takes under two hours from Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston and runs four days a week.
However, while the ORR has reversed its decision, it remains adamant about the potential risk.
“On the basis of the information we have, we believe the running of this 7am service could have a negative impact on reliability and punctuality of services on the West Coast Main Line, but we recognise its importance and popularity and will support its continued operation," the ORR statement said.
Avanti West Coast has said it was “delighted” at the change of plan.
"We are delighted that the Office of Rail and Road has given us permission to reinstate the 07:00 Manchester to Euston weekday service in our December timetable," it said.
"The original decision would have had a detrimental impact on customers who use this train and this development is a welcome boost for those who want to take advantage of a sub two-hour service between two of the UK's major cities."
