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Virgin has a rival: GNWR to run London to Blackpool west coast rail service Virgin has a rival: GNWR to run London to Blackpool west coast rail service
(about 1 hour later)
Virgin Trains is to face competition on the west coast rail line for the first time after the rail regulator approved the launch of a rival service between Blackpool and London.Virgin Trains is to face competition on the west coast rail line for the first time after the rail regulator approved the launch of a rival service between Blackpool and London.
The decision to allow Great North Western Railway (GNWR) to run the service means Virgin faces its first direct competition on the route since Richard Branson’s firm took over the west coast franchise on privatisation in 1997. It will also link the population of London more directly to the tourist attractions in Blackpool.The decision to allow Great North Western Railway (GNWR) to run the service means Virgin faces its first direct competition on the route since Richard Branson’s firm took over the west coast franchise on privatisation in 1997. It will also link the population of London more directly to the tourist attractions in Blackpool.
Although Virgin has been operating one red-eye weekday direct return service, leaving Blackpool at 5.25am, since January this year, the new GNWR service will run six return trains on weekdays and five at weekends, from 2018.Although Virgin has been operating one red-eye weekday direct return service, leaving Blackpool at 5.25am, since January this year, the new GNWR service will run six return trains on weekdays and five at weekends, from 2018.
GNWR, a sister company of Grand Central, which runs a similar operation on the east coast main line between London and Sunderland, said it would be invest in a new fleet of Pendolino tilting trains and create 120 jobs. GNWR, a sister company of Grand Central, which runs a similar operation on the east coast main line between London and Sunderland, said it would invest in a new fleet of Pendolino tilting trains and create 120 jobs.
The service will be run on an “open access” basis, outside the franchise system under which most train companies, including Virgin, operate. While the idea of direct competition on rail lines was largely rejected as unworkable when British Rail was disbanded in the 1990s, the possibility of open access remained as a relic of the original vision for privatisation, and proponents claim it has been shown to drive down fares.The service will be run on an “open access” basis, outside the franchise system under which most train companies, including Virgin, operate. While the idea of direct competition on rail lines was largely rejected as unworkable when British Rail was disbanded in the 1990s, the possibility of open access remained as a relic of the original vision for privatisation, and proponents claim it has been shown to drive down fares.
GNWR has been granted firm rights to run services from Blackpool North to Queen’s Park in north-west London, calling at Crewe, Preston and Poulton-le-Fylde. GNWR intends to run its services beyond Queen’s Park into the mainline terminus at Euston, but this is contingent on Network Rail agreeing to grant the slots when the scale of disruption of work to construct the new HS2 line becomes clear.GNWR has been granted firm rights to run services from Blackpool North to Queen’s Park in north-west London, calling at Crewe, Preston and Poulton-le-Fylde. GNWR intends to run its services beyond Queen’s Park into the mainline terminus at Euston, but this is contingent on Network Rail agreeing to grant the slots when the scale of disruption of work to construct the new HS2 line becomes clear.
It also intends to call at Milton Keynes, Nuneaton, Tamworth, Lichfield Trent Valley and Kirkham and Wesham, depending on the conclusion of other works by Network Rail.It also intends to call at Milton Keynes, Nuneaton, Tamworth, Lichfield Trent Valley and Kirkham and Wesham, depending on the conclusion of other works by Network Rail.
The application by GNWR, a subsidiary of German-owned transport firm Arriva, was approved by the regulator, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR). The ORR’s director for economic regulation, John Larkinson, said: “ORR recognises the benefits competition between train operators can bring to passengers and welcomes applications for new train services where they meet required criteria and provide real benefits for rail users.The application by GNWR, a subsidiary of German-owned transport firm Arriva, was approved by the regulator, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR). The ORR’s director for economic regulation, John Larkinson, said: “ORR recognises the benefits competition between train operators can bring to passengers and welcomes applications for new train services where they meet required criteria and provide real benefits for rail users.
“In this instance the proposed new services will bring significant passenger benefits with extra direct London–Blackpool trains, new journey opportunities including new direct services to and from Poulton-le-Fylde and Kirkham and Wesham, and improved journey times.”“In this instance the proposed new services will bring significant passenger benefits with extra direct London–Blackpool trains, new journey opportunities including new direct services to and from Poulton-le-Fylde and Kirkham and Wesham, and improved journey times.”
Ian Yeowart, who ran the GNWR bid, said: “We are naturally delighted that the ORR has approved our application to deliver a new direct rail service linking Blackpool and London.Ian Yeowart, who ran the GNWR bid, said: “We are naturally delighted that the ORR has approved our application to deliver a new direct rail service linking Blackpool and London.
“The introduction of these new services will further grow the market for rail travel. As well as bringing new direct services to a number of locations, notably Blackpool, it will give passengers further choice. Experience on the east coast with Grand Central has shown how this stimulates the market and helps put pressure on prices.”“The introduction of these new services will further grow the market for rail travel. As well as bringing new direct services to a number of locations, notably Blackpool, it will give passengers further choice. Experience on the east coast with Grand Central has shown how this stimulates the market and helps put pressure on prices.”
GNWR is also looking to run fast trains between London and Edinburgh, with the ORR expected to make a decision later this year.GNWR is also looking to run fast trains between London and Edinburgh, with the ORR expected to make a decision later this year.