West Coast Main Line

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

Europhoenix 37901 waits to remove 350247 on June 27 the day after it derailed crossing from the Up to the Down slow of the West Coast Main Line near Bletchley. NETWORK RAIL.

News

WCML derailment damage blocks through trains onto East West Rail

Leading bogie of London Northwestern Railway unit derailed during empty stock move.

West Coast Main Line 2 Jul

News

New technology to scrap mobile signal blackspots due from 2026

New partnership aims to improve 4G/5G connectivity on trains and in stations.

technology 26 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

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

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

An artist's impression of the proposed Golborne station. TRANSPORT FOR GREATER MANCHESTER.

News

Plans for new Greater Manchester station approved 64 years after town lost rail connection

A new Golborne station is hoped to be up and running by the end of 2027.

Transport for Greater Manchester 1 May

Aerial view of Greek Street Roundabout. NETWORK RAIL.

News

Network Rail prepares for year-long road closure in Stockport

Network Rail is expecting work at Greek Street Roundabout in Stockport to result in “as little disruption as possible” to the West Coast Main line when work begins on the site on April 19.

Network Rail 17 Apr

The first WCML blockade in 2026 will enable signal gantry renewals in the Preston area. On January 14, Avanti West Coast 807002 calls at Preston with the 1705 London Euston-Blackpool North. TOM MCATEE

News

Provisional first dates and locations of West Coast Main Line renewals as operators welcome work

Four two week possessions of the WCML are set to take place in January, April, June and September 2026.

West Coast Main Line 6 Feb

News

Broken down Pendolino on West Coast Main Line for 33 hours after losing power

Avanti West Coast unit lost power after pantograph struck object on overhead line catenary

West Coast Main Line 20 Jan

Clifton Bridge, which takes the West Coast Main Line over the M6 near Penrith, Cumbria. NETWORK RAIL.

News

West Coast Main Line bridge that's 'reached the end of its life' to be replaced

Work to replace the 71-year-old bridge will take place in January 2026

West Coast Main Line 13 Jan

News

Planning application submitted for new £32 million Golborne rail station

A planning application by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) for a new £32 million railway station in Golborne has been submitted to Wigan Council

Transport for Greater Manchester 21 Nov

News

“Doing nothing is not an option” – Report into Midlands North West rail link released

A new report has outlined a plan to create a high-speed rail link between the Midlands and the North of England, aiming to address the region's growing capacity constraints.

HS2 13 Sept

Services will continue on towards Manchester Victoria after passing through Crewe. JACK BOSKETT.

News

London Northwestern plans to extend Euston-Crewe service to Manchester Victoria

London Northwestern Railway (LNR) has announced plans to launch new services between Manchester, the West Midlands and London.

West Coast Main Line 2 Jul

News

NIC criticises Government’s West Coast ‘do nothing’ policy

The economic prospects of Birmingham and Manchester are being seriously damaged because of the Government’s failure to come up with any plans to improve the West Coast Main Line, to replace the cancelled northern leg of HS2, writes Howard Johnston.

Infrastructure 22 May

Avanti West Coast 390130 crosses Docker Viaduct (Cumbria) with the 1040 Glasgow Central-London Euston on June 17 2021

Feature

West Coast Main Line special: the spine of the nation

Ben Jones explains why the West Coast Main Line has been Britain’s busiest and most important rail corridor for almost 200 years

Major projects 15 May

News

Grand Union wins Stirling-London open access approval

The first open access services on the West Coast Main Line have been approved by the Office of Rail and Road.

West Coast Main Line 12 Mar

News

Windermere passing loop heads South Cumbria rail plans

A plan for South Cumbria, setting out realistic investment targets for the region’s lines with its local operator at its core, is aiming for ‘quick wins’.

30 Jun

West Coast Main Line

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

WCML derailment damage blocks through trains onto East West Rail

New technology to scrap mobile signal blackspots due from 2026

Frustrated open access operators criticise Network Rail over track access responses

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

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

Plans for new Greater Manchester station approved 64 years after town lost rail connection

Network Rail prepares for year-long road closure in Stockport

Provisional first dates and locations of West Coast Main Line renewals as operators welcome work

Broken down Pendolino on West Coast Main Line for 33 hours after losing power

West Coast Main Line bridge that's 'reached the end of its life' to be replaced

Planning application submitted for new £32 million Golborne rail station

“Doing nothing is not an option” – Report into Midlands North West rail link released

London Northwestern plans to extend Euston-Crewe service to Manchester Victoria

NIC criticises Government’s West Coast ‘do nothing’ policy

West Coast Main Line special: the spine of the nation

Grand Union wins Stirling-London open access approval

Windermere passing loop heads South Cumbria rail plans

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

GB Railfreight planning to repurpose at least 12 more Class 66s for heavy trainloads

West Coast Main Line

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

WCML derailment damage blocks through trains onto East West Rail

New technology to scrap mobile signal blackspots due from 2026

Frustrated open access operators criticise Network Rail over track access responses

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

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

Plans for new Greater Manchester station approved 64 years after town lost rail connection

Network Rail prepares for year-long road closure in Stockport

Provisional first dates and locations of West Coast Main Line renewals as operators welcome work

Broken down Pendolino on West Coast Main Line for 33 hours after losing power

West Coast Main Line bridge that's 'reached the end of its life' to be replaced

Planning application submitted for new £32 million Golborne rail station

“Doing nothing is not an option” – Report into Midlands North West rail link released

London Northwestern plans to extend Euston-Crewe service to Manchester Victoria

NIC criticises Government’s West Coast ‘do nothing’ policy

West Coast Main Line special: the spine of the nation

Grand Union wins Stirling-London open access approval

Windermere passing loop heads South Cumbria rail plans

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

GB Railfreight planning to repurpose at least 12 more Class 66s for heavy trainloads

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"

FirstGroup confirms Class 222s for Euston-Stirling Lumo route

All three West Coast Main Line open access bid rejected

DB Cargo sells three more Class 90s for reuse

Why the Class 67s have been running on borrowed time for nearly the whole of their lives