Have Alstom Given Up On Their Euston And Wrexham Open Access Service?
I last wrote about this planned service in Direct London Trains ‘Could Start In 2026’.
But, as I wrote in Network Rail Objects To Wrexham To London Service, Network Rail had objected.
I asked Google AI, the question in the title of this post and received this reply.
No, Alstom has not given up on the Wrexham, Shropshire and Midlands Railway (WSMR) open-access project.
After the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) rejected their initial application in July 2025 due to capacity and congestion concerns on the network, WSMR resubmitted a revised bid in late November / December 2025.
Key Updates on the Resubmitted Bid
Reduced Services: The revised plan trimmed the proposed frequency from five daily return trips down to three guaranteed daily returns (with an option for a fourth).
Route Adjustments: The new application added a stop at Wellington (Shropshire) and sought to utilize newly available or spare capacity paths.
Timeline: A decision from the rail regulator (ORR) was anticipated in Spring 2026, with hopes for the service to launch towards the end of 2026.
The Route
The map downloaded from a BBC article, which is entitled Direct London trains ‘Could Start In 2026’ shows the route.
Note.
- There are now ten intermediate stops.
- Wellington and Darlaston have been added between Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury.
- Euston and Wolverhampton is 124.9 miles and fully electrified.
- Wolverhampton and Wrexham General is 59.9 miles and is not electrified.
- The section of the route without electrification is 120 miles return, which could be too far for battery-electric trains.
But I believe that the battery-electric trains, that TransPennine Express have ordered from Alstom could handle the route with charging at Wrexham General station.
I have some further thoughts.
Hydrogen Is Now Not Proposed
In Direct London Trains ‘Could Start In 2026’, I felt that Alstom might use hydrogen trains.
But now that TransPennine Express have ordered Alstom battery-electric trains and the route could be ideal for them, it would seem sensible to use them.
Providing charging at Wrexham General station would probably be easier than providing hydrogen refuelling.
Could Euston and Wrexham General Be A Test Route For The Adessia Battery-Electric Train In The UK?
I asked Google AI and received this reply.
Yes, London Euston and Wrexham General could serve as an ideal test route for Alstom’s Adessia battery-electric train platform.
Route Characteristics and Viability
Electrified Section: The journey from London Euston to Wolverhampton covers roughly 124.9 miles on fully electrified lines.
Uncertified / Non-Electrified Section: The remaining 59.9 miles from Wolverhampton to Wrexham General lacks overhead electrification (via Shrewsbury).
Battery Range Demands: Operating this run requires a battery-electric range capability of roughly 60 miles in each direction beyond the wires, or a charging strategy implemented at Wrexham General station.
Proposed Operations: Wrexham Shropshire and Midlands Railway (WSMR) announced plans to work with Alstom to introduce a bi-mode battery-electric fleet from the Adessia family if their open-access operations are approved.
This is the first time, that I’ve seen linkage between Alstom’s open access operation and development of a bi-mode battery-electric fleet.
Will Wrexham Shropshire and Midlands Railway’s Adessia Trains Be 110 mph Trains?
This would make them compatible with the TransPennine Express trains.
But they will be sharing the West Coast Main Line with 125 mph Class 390, Class 805 and Class 807 trains.
I wonder, if for ease of operation, that the trains will be 125 mph units.
WSMR Plans Alstom-Built Bi-Mode Sets If Open Access Bid Approved
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Rail magazine.
This is the sub-heading.
Wrexham, Shropshire & Midlands Railway (WSMR) has said it will invest in new Alstom battery-electric bi-mode trains if its open access application is successful.
These three paragraphs add some more details.
In December the Alstom-backed operation resubmitted its application to run between the North Wales city and London Euston via Shrewsbury and Walsall after its initial bid was rejected by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) last year.
In a letter to the regulator and Network Rail, Mobilisation Director Darren Horley said: “Should our application be successful, WSMR will work alongside its parent company, Alstom, and will commit to invest in a new bi-mode battery-electric fleet based on the Adessia platform – Alstom’s new generation passenger train designed specifically for the UK market.
“Initial discussions regarding the procurement of a small new fleet have already commenced with Alstom and a financier.”
The Adessia will be a high speed version, with a maximum speed of 125 mph or 200 kph.
I have some thoughts.
How Much Of The Route Is Without Electrification?
In Alstom Plans To Operate Its Own Passenger Train Service In The UK For The First Time, I gave these distances of the sections of the route.
- Euston and Nuneaton – 96.7 miles – electrified
- Nuneaton and Walsall – 26.7 miles – electrified
- Walsall and Wolverhampton – 6.7 miles – electrified
- Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury – 29.7 miles
- Shrewsbury and Wrexham General – 30.3 miles
That looks like there are sixty miles in each direction without electrification.
Either the trains would have a battery range of 120 miles or a battery range of over 60 miles with charging at Wrexham General station, which is shown in these pictures.
Note.
- Wrexham General station has four platforms. Two are a pair of long through platforms and there are also a separate long and a short through platform.
- The station is step-free.
- The last four pictures are Platform 4.
This OpenRailwayMap shows the platform layout at Wrexham General station.
Note.
- The blue arrow is between the two through Platforms 1 and 2.
- Platform 3 is the platform in the middle.
- Platform 4 is the platform on the left.
An overhead charging rail could be used on Platforms 3 and/or 4, as has been used at Caerphilly station.
The overhead charging rail could also charge other Wrexham General services.
Prospective Routes
I would expect that there would be a need for such a train on the following UK routes.
- CrossCountry – Class 221 train replacement.
- East-West Rail – New fleet.
- Southeastern – London and Hastings.
- ScotRail – Inter7City replacement.
- South Western Railway – Class 158 and Class 159 train replacement.
- Transport for Wales – Some diesel services.
There would be probably be other services too!
Will The Service Call At Willenhall, Darlaston And Walsall?
This OpenRailwayMap shows the three stations.
Note.
- Willenhall station is in the North-West corner of the map.
- Darlaston station is marked by the blue arrow.
- Walsall station is in the North-East corner of the map.
- Tame Valley Parkway station is in the South-East corner of the map.
- It might also be a good idea to call at the Parkway station.
- Red tracks are electrified.
- To call at all four stations will need a reverse at Walsall.
There may be some thinking to do, on the best calling pattern in Walsall.
