The Anonymous Widower

ORR Rejects WSMR And Lumo WCML Bids

The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Modern Railways.

These two paragraphs add more details.

Aspirations by Wrexham, Shropshire & Midlands Railway Company (WSMR) and Lumo to run more open access services on the West Coast main line have been rejected by the Office of Rail and Road.

WSMR hoped to run four Wrexham-London Euston return services, and Lumo up to four return trains between Rochdale and Euston. The ORR also rejected Avanti West Coast’s bid for extra Blackpool-Euston trains.

I feel by its rejection of the two open access bids from WSMR and Lumo, the ORR is showing its obedience to its socialist masters and following a policy of no trains, must be run by private enterprise.

But its rejection of more services to Blackpool, is surely an error of the highest order.

• Blackpool needs more express trains.
• Blackpool North station now has a well-designed interchange between the trains to Preston, Manchester, Liverpool, London and the South and the Blackpool tramway.
• Blackpool North and Euston is a fully-electrified route.
• There is scope to add extra services to the Blackpool tramway.
• Avanti West Coast will be run by the state from the 7th March 2027.

Surely, similar rules can apply independently of the owner?

But obviously not in Burnham’s Bankrupt Britain.

October 8, 2026 - Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | Andy Burnham, Avanti West Coast, Blackpool North Station, Blackpool Tramway, Lumo, Lumo Euston And Rochdale, Office Of Rail And Road, Wrexham Shropshire and Midlands Railway (WSMR)