‘The North won’t sit back while essential connectivity is chipped away’An Avanti West Coast train at Manchester Piccadilly(Image: Network Rail)

A plan to axe the 7am Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston train service has been dropped, it has now been confirmed.

Industry regulator The Office Rail and Road (ORR) had earmarked the weekday Avanti West Cost service – which stops only at Stockport and reaches the capital in under two hours – for the chop in the new timetable which comes into effect from December 15.

It was still to travel, in order to move staff from Manchester to London, but without any passengers, seeing it dubbed the ‘ghost train.’

The ORR initially said the decision was based on ‘robust evidence’ from Network Rail that the service would have to run on a ‘firebreak’ path on the West Coast Mainline, and that removing passengers meant it could be more flexibly delayed or re-routed, which would improve performance on the line.

However, the decision was slammed by a number of local politicians, including the Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham.

The weekday service sees passenger arrive at Euston station in under two hours and before 9am(Image: Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)

A number of Greater Manchester MPs also wrote a cross-party letter to ORR Chief Executive John Larkinson, warning that the move was ‘deeply perverse’ and a waste of public money.

And the regulator has today (Monday) confirmed it has u-turned on the plan. A spokesperson told the Manchester Evening News: “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.

“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.”

An Avanti West Coast spokesperson said: “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.

Rochdale MP Paul Waugh said the decision was a ‘win for common sense'(Image: Joel Goodman)

“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.

“It builds on our new timetable which is delivering even more services across our network from the start of the December, including further additional trains on our Liverpool route.”

A Network Rail spokesperson told ITV: “We welcome the ORR’s decision to allow the 7am service to continue and will work closely with Avanti to support its operation. This service is already part of the timetable, and we fully support its continuation.”

Writing on X, Mr Burnham said in reaction to today’s U-turn: “I am glad common sense has prevailed BUT the UK’s fastest-growing city-region should not be in the position of having to beg and plead for basic rail connectivity.

“A plan to improve Manchester-London services in the short, medium and long terms is now well overdue.”

Rochdale MP Paul Waugh, one of the signatories of the letter to the ORR, said: “This is a win for common sense and a win for passengers.

“The idea that a peak-time train to London should run empty was absurd, and I’m pleased that after strong pressure from me and other Greater Manchester MPs, the regulator has changed course.

“People in Rochdale and across the North rely on these links for jobs, business and family life. Today’s U-turn shows what we can achieve when we stand up together for our region.”

He added: “This should also be a wake-up call for those making decisions about the future of rail services. The North won’t sit back while essential connectivity is chipped away.”