Open access

News

DfT accused of "strong-arm tactics" in battle over future of open access

FirstGroup rejects Department for Transport claims about impact of open access.

Open access 9 Jul

Grand Central's 180104 speeds through South Otterington (near Northallerton) on September 12 2024 with the 0853 Sunderland to London King’s Cross. ALEX AYRE.

News

"Too much smoke and mirrors" about open access - Haines

Network Rail Chief Executive says there's "too much smoke and mirrors about sector's costs and benefits.

Open access 7 Jul

Lumo Class 803 and LNER Azuma unit side by side at London King's Cross. ALAMY.

News

Changing open access analysis "would delay all ECML decisions"

Office of Rail and Road writes back to DfT warning of the impact changing the analysis process at such a late stage.

East Coast Main Line 4 Jul

Avanti West Coast is the principal operator on the West Coast Main Line, and has submitted five different bids for extra train paths as it seeks to return services that were withdrawn during COVID. But it faces competition from a posse of open access operators. AWC 805005 approaches Rugeley Trent Valley on May 10, during a Class 805 ‘Evero’ test run. ALAMY.

Comment

Snap Analysis: It's the end of the open season for open access

The decision from The Office of Rail and Road could spell the end of many open access operators aspirations for expansion as the reality of the ECML and WCML capacity issues begins to bite.

Industry views 3 Jul

803002 working Lumo's 1S93 1045 Kings Cross to Edinburgh through Little Ponton in Lincolnshire on August 5 2022. PAUL CLARK

News

WCML open access decisions explained - DfT letter "not relevant"

Office of Rail and Road decision letter explains the factors that were and weren't relevant in its decision.

Office of Rail and Road 3 Jul

Off-lease 221104 passes Wellington as part of a driver training run between Central Rivers TMD and Wrexham. ALISTAIR COX.

News

All three West Coast Main Line open access bid rejected

Bids by FirstGroup, Virgin and Wrexham, Shropshire and Midlands Railway have all been turned down.

Open access 3 Jul

News

Conflict of interest fears raised in DfT's latest open access letter

Another letter to the Office of Rail and Road highlights concerns over conflict of interest and cumulative revenue abstraction.

Open access 27 Jun

A Great Western Railway IET enters Hereford station on March 5 2022, prior to working a service to Paddington via Worcester and Oxford. Lumo trains would head south from Hereford and reach London via Abergavenny and Bristol Parkway. JACK BOSKETT.

News

FirstGroup explains why it chose Hereford for next Lumo plan

FirstGroup plans to fit Hereford services into its Carmarthen operation once that starts in December 2027.

FirstGroup 25 Jun

Off-lease Class 769s parked up at Porterbrook's Long Marston site. DAVID STUBBINGS.

News

Go-op targeting Class 769s for open access regional services

Open access co-operative firm announces plans to use bi-mode units instead of Class 150s or '153s'.

Go-op 24 Jun

News

Frustrated open access operators criticise Network Rail over track access responses

Wrexham, Shropshire and Midlands Railway and Hull Trains have both written letters outlining their frustrations as part of the track access application process.

Open access 11 Jun

Lumo 803 001 arrives at Newcastle Central forming the 1525 Edinburgh-King’s Cross on August 6 2022. Lumo is one of three open access operators on the East Coast Main Line. ANTONY GUPPY.

News

The 15 new open access routes currently being planned after FirstGroup submits Hereford Lumo bid

More than a dozen new routes are planned by open access operators.

Open access 9 Jun

News

FirstGroup announces another new Lumo plan - this time Hereford to Paddington

Open access operator hopes to start services in December 2027.

FirstGroup 6 Jun

News

Analysis: The verdict on ECML abstraction is still ‘not proven’

It’s said that there are two versions of events, and in the middle - the truth.

News Analysis 2 Jun

News

FirstGroup disputes £1bn open access abstraction claim on ECML

Report commissioned by public sector said open access could abstract more than £1bn in revenue over next decade.

FirstGroup 28 May

News

DfT denies suggestions it could override open access approvals

Newspaper report had suggested Transport Secretary could reverse decisions deemed to be “at the expense of the taxpayer”.

Open access 27 May

At York on April 20, Grand Central 180102 has arrived with the 1213 Sunderland-London King’s Cross, while CrossCountry 220018 and 221132 wait with the 1105 Edinburgh-Penzance. STEVE WIDDOWSON.

News

More details of Grand Central's Newcastle-Brighton plan as they want to "run in parallel" with CrossCountry services

Open access operator wants to follow CrossCountry's route between Newcastle and Reading.

Grand Central 14 May

News

Network Rail refuses to support three West Coast Main Line open access plans

Infrastructure owner highlights several issues with all three with capacity being a key area of concern.

West Coast Main Line 13 May

Private operator… and state-owned franchisee. Lumo 803002 (left) with the 1023 London King’s Cross to Edinburgh stands at Newcastle on February 26 2023, alongside LNER 801211 on the competing 1003 King’s Cross-Edinburgh. Despite Labour’s nationalisation plans, the government has been supportive of open access. PAUL BIGGS.

News

Open access to cost LNER £1.1bn over next decade in abstracted revenue, report claims

New report suggests an average of £100 of revenue a year will be abstracted from state-run operator up until 2035.

East Coast Main Line 12 May

News

MPs lobby Network Rail to support open access Wrexham-London plan

Group of MPs serving communities along the route put their names to a letter supporting the plan.

Open access 9 May

Avanti West Coast Pendolino 390104 passing Rugby. MIKE BROOK.

News

Network Rail unlikely to support any new West Coast Main Line track access plans - apart from one

Network Rail has said WCML performance is likely to worsen when already approved new services are added later this year.

West Coast Main Line 7 May

Open access

DfT accused of "strong-arm tactics" in battle over future of open access

"Too much smoke and mirrors" about open access - Haines

Changing open access analysis "would delay all ECML decisions"

Snap Analysis: It's the end of the open season for open access

WCML open access decisions explained - DfT letter "not relevant"

All three West Coast Main Line open access bid rejected

Conflict of interest fears raised in DfT's latest open access letter

FirstGroup explains why it chose Hereford for next Lumo plan

Go-op targeting Class 769s for open access regional services

Frustrated open access operators criticise Network Rail over track access responses

The 15 new open access routes currently being planned after FirstGroup submits Hereford Lumo bid

FirstGroup announces another new Lumo plan - this time Hereford to Paddington

Analysis: The verdict on ECML abstraction is still ‘not proven’

FirstGroup disputes £1bn open access abstraction claim on ECML

DfT denies suggestions it could override open access approvals

More details of Grand Central's Newcastle-Brighton plan as they want to "run in parallel" with CrossCountry services

Network Rail refuses to support three West Coast Main Line open access plans

Open access to cost LNER £1.1bn over next decade in abstracted revenue, report claims

MPs lobby Network Rail to support open access Wrexham-London plan

Network Rail unlikely to support any new West Coast Main Line track access plans - apart from one

Most read

No takers so first DB Cargo UK Class 67 goes for scrap

FirstGroup explains why Class 222s were "only option" for Lumo Euston-Stirling service

DB Cargo UK discussing transferring drivers to rival as it deals with Network Rail contract loss

Open access

DfT accused of "strong-arm tactics" in battle over future of open access

"Too much smoke and mirrors" about open access - Haines

Changing open access analysis "would delay all ECML decisions"

Snap Analysis: It's the end of the open season for open access

WCML open access decisions explained - DfT letter "not relevant"

All three West Coast Main Line open access bid rejected

Conflict of interest fears raised in DfT's latest open access letter

FirstGroup explains why it chose Hereford for next Lumo plan

Go-op targeting Class 769s for open access regional services

Frustrated open access operators criticise Network Rail over track access responses

The 15 new open access routes currently being planned after FirstGroup submits Hereford Lumo bid

FirstGroup announces another new Lumo plan - this time Hereford to Paddington

Analysis: The verdict on ECML abstraction is still ‘not proven’

FirstGroup disputes £1bn open access abstraction claim on ECML

DfT denies suggestions it could override open access approvals

More details of Grand Central's Newcastle-Brighton plan as they want to "run in parallel" with CrossCountry services

Network Rail refuses to support three West Coast Main Line open access plans

Open access to cost LNER £1.1bn over next decade in abstracted revenue, report claims

MPs lobby Network Rail to support open access Wrexham-London plan

Network Rail unlikely to support any new West Coast Main Line track access plans - apart from one

Most read

No takers so first DB Cargo UK Class 67 goes for scrap

FirstGroup explains why Class 222s were "only option" for Lumo Euston-Stirling service

DB Cargo UK discussing transferring drivers to rival as it deals with Network Rail contract loss

UK "fails to provide trains people want or like"

16 DB Cargo UK drivers switching to rival

Further MML electrification and York capacity projects paused

DB Cargo sells three more Class 90s for reuse

FirstGroup confirms Class 222s for Euston-Stirling Lumo route

All three West Coast Main Line open access bid rejected