UK regulator the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has approved an application by Arriva subsidiary Alliance Rail Holdings for a new direct passenger rail service from London to Blackpool North through the West Coast Main Line (WCML).
Arriva company Great North Western Railway (GNWR) has submitted the application to operate six return train services each day, including weekends.
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GNWR is a sister company of Grand Central, which already operates passenger services between the North East and West Yorkshire to London.
ORR director economic regulation John Larkinson said: "The 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 & Wesham, and improved journey times.
"The regulator will include conditions in GNWR’s access contract to secure these benefits. The company’s plans submitted to the ORR include additional investment in stations and trains, bringing further benefits to passengers."
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By GlobalDataScheduled to start from 2018, the new services will see six return trains operated a day between London and Blackpool.
In order to accommodate these new services, Arriva will invest in new tilting trains as well as create around 120 new jobs to operate these services.
Alliance Rail Holdings managing director Ian Yeowart said: "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 Main Line (ECML) with Grand Central has shown how this stimulates the market and helps put pressure on prices, a fact noted by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in its recent rail review."
Image: Alliance Rail Holdings gets ORR approval for new direct passenger rail service from London to Blackpool North via WCML. Photo: courtesy of G-Man via Wikipedia.
