Open access operators mulling next moves after West Coast Main Line refusal

Firms behind rejected open access plans for the West Coast Main Line are working out their next moves after being rejected by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR).

Plans for services linking Birmingham, Liverpool, Preston and Rochdale (Virgin), Rochdale (FirstGroup) and Wrexham (Wrexham, Shropshire and Midlands Railway) have all been turned down by the regulator which said there was insufficient capacity on the WCML South between Rugby and London Euston.

ORR said introducing any of the services “would be detrimental to performance on the WCML and therefore all passengers and freight customers”.

The regulator told applicants that Network Rail had also provided “clear evidence” that nine firebreak paths were frequently used to help the WCML schedule recover.

It's understood the team behind the WSMR bid is examining ways to revise the bid. A spokeswoman said: “We will now urgently seek to reengage with ORR and determine our next steps regarding the future of this vital passenger service.”

Shrewsbury MP Julia Buckley (Labour) said she was “determined” to see the application resubmitted “as soon as possible”.

FirstGroup said it was “disappointed” at the decision but added it would “continue to explore further potential opportunities” for the WCML.

Despite having its bid rejected, FirstGroup repeated its call for ORR to be allowed to “balance additional new open access services for passengers with other users of the network” and to do this “without interference”.

Virgin is turning its focus towards the Channel Tunnel, where it hopes to rival Eurostar.