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A train service that carries daily travelers from London from Manchester is set to run empty for approximately a five-month period due to a determination by the railway oversight authority.

A verdict by the rail regulatory body means the 07:00 GMT train operated by Avanti West Coast from Manchester's main station to London will still operate but will exclusively serve to transport employees from mid-December.

An operator spokesperson stated they were "disappointed" with the outcome, which would "clearly impact those passengers who already use these services".

An regulatory official explained the decision was founded on "robust evidence" from the infrastructure manager to guard against possible operational issues on the West Coast Main Line.

Network Rail did not provide a statement.

Details of the Service Changes

The fast service, which reaches the capital in less than 120 minutes, will continue to leave from Manchester station at 7:00 AM on four weekdays, but will not open to commuters.

It will, instead, ferry Avanti staff from Manchester to London when the updated schedule launches on 15 December.

The ruling implies the service could operate for more than 100 journeys without paying passengers on the train.

An Avanti West Coast representative confirmed they were disappointed with the ORR's decision not to approve access rights from the winter period for four weekday services they presently run, including the 07:00 fast service from London from Manchester.

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

"It will clearly impact those customers who currently rely on these services," they stated.

"However, we will still be delivering even more services across our network from the start of the winter schedule, including more extra trains on our Liverpool route."

The representative verified that the services being removed were:

• 7:00 AM GMT: Manchester station to London Euston (Monday to Friday)
• 12:52 GMT: Blackpool station – London Euston (Weekdays)
• 09:39 GMT: Euston station – Blackpool North (Monday to Friday)
• 7:32 PM GMT: Chester – London Euston (Monday to Friday)
• 17:53 GMT: Holyhead station – London Euston ends at Crewe (Sundays)

Oversight Reasoning

An regulatory official stated: "Our decision on the London-Manchester train was based on comprehensive data provided by the infrastructure operator that adding services within 'firebreak' paths on the West Coast Main Line would have a negative effect on reliability.

"It was determined that this train would run in one of those time slots. If Avanti operates the service as empty coaching stock (ECS), ECS can be operated with greater flexibility (delayed or redirected) than a booked passenger service.

"This helps with service reliability and service recovery during incidents."

The ORR said Avanti was previously given the right to operate this train from May 2025 for the duration of one timetable period exclusively.

This was on the condition that another operator's Scottish trains were not operating at the moment but the First Lumo services are expected to begin running during the December 2025 timetable period.

The ORR noted that under the updated schedule, new open access train services, run by First Lumo to Stirling, were scheduled to commence.