Virgin Group has initiated steps to re-enter the UK rail sector by submitting an application to the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) for four Open Access rail paths.
The application represents an initial step in the potential return of Virgin to the railways. Virgin Trains, during its previous tenure on the West Coast Main Line, achieved notable improvements, including reductions in journey times, tripling services on key routes, and increasing passenger numbers from 8 million to 42 million annually.
The new application focuses solely on reinstating Virgin's presence in the rail market without any state subsidies, contrasting with franchised operators who operate under government contracts.
The proposed routes, pending approval, include services in both directions connecting:
- London Euston, Nuneaton, Stoke-on-Trent, Stockport, Manchester Piccadilly, with potential endpoints at Manchester Victoria and Rochdale, or Bolton, Horwich, Chorley, and Preston.
- London Euston, Tamworth, Lichfield Trent Valley, Runcorn, Liverpool South Parkway, and Liverpool Lime Street.
- London Euston, Coventry, Birmingham International, and Birmingham New Street.
- London Euston, Golborne, Preston, Carlisle, Motherwell, Lockerbie, and Glasgow Central.
Expansion of Lumo
Meanwhile, FirstGroup (covering brands such as Avanti West Coast, Hull Trains, GWR or South Western Railway) has also submitted an application to the ORR for a new open access rail service between Rochdale and London. This service aims to restore the direct link, last operational in 2000, with plans for six return journeys a day.
The route includes stops at Manchester Victoria, Eccles, Newton-le-Willows, and Warrington Bank Quay. This initiative is part of FirstGroup’s Lumo business, which has previously enhanced connectivity between London and Edinburgh.
The new service from FirstGroup is expected to offer significant connectivity for the North West, providing a competitively priced rail service to London. It will utilize new electric and battery-powered trains built in the UK, contributing to environmental goals and supporting local economies through increased rail connectivity.
Both Virgin Group and FirstGroup aim to provide more travel options and foster competition in the rail sector, with Virgin's re-entry and FirstGroup's expansion through Lumo reflecting broader efforts to improve rail services across the UK.
The ORR will review these applications, and pending approval, these new routes could reshape the rail travel landscape by offering passengers increased choices and fostering competition in the sector.
