Planned new high-speed trains between London Euston, Manchester and Rochdale will compete with existing rail services, deliver lower fares and serve new routes.
That’s according to a leading railway analyst, who says the changes will mean happier passengers and more inward investment.
Tony Lodge, of the Centre for Policy Studies and author of a series of rail policy papers supporting more train competition, has studied new proposals to bring high speed train competition to the West Coast Main Line (WCML), between London Euston, Warrington, Newton-le-Willows, Eccles, Manchester Victoria and Rochdale.
The plans from LUMO trains would bring a direct London connection to Manchester Victoria and Rochdale for the first time in more than 25 years. With a stop at Eccles, the new trains would also put Salford MediaCity very close to a fast rail link with London.
Tony (pictured) said: “These plans are very welcome and long overdue. For a generation there has
been hugely successful high speed train competition on the routes between London King’s Cross, Yorkshire and the North East – but not in the North West.
“Today four intercity train operators (LUMO, Hull Trains, Grand Central and LNER) compete for passengers on the East Coast Main Line (ECML). Services are busy, very popular and fares are comparatively low. Why has this successful model, so far, not been allowed on the WCML between London Euston and Greater Manchester? These new plans must be supported and delivered quickly.
“The new proposals would see LUMO run six return services a day delivering new connectivity to this underserved route, grow local economies and deliver modal shift. LUMO already runs the popular (96% passenger satisfaction) London King’s Cross – Newcastle – Edinburgh trains which effectively compete with air and road. They are an ‘open access’ operator which means they receive no government money and survive on selling tickets
and attracting more passengers to their services. They compete with the government-run operator LNER and other ‘open access’ firms.”
Importantly, the proposed new London – Manchester Victoria – Rochdale services can also have a huge impact on fares. Manchester and Doncaster are almost the same distance from London – albeit on different main lines (WCML v ECML). The average off-peak available fare from Doncaster to London on a weekday between 10 and 11am – on average – is just £41. The passenger can choose from three train firms (LNER, Hull Trains and Grand Central) and the comparative fare from Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston is on average £65 where there is one monopoly operator (Avanti).
If the green light is given the new LUMO services could be up and running by 2027 and would compete with the new nationalised Great British Railways (GBR) rail service which will replace Avanti, according to the new government’s plans.
Tony added: “Currently a million people come through Manchester Victoria from the North,
East and West to reach London-bound trains at Piccadilly. But passengers either need to walk, get the tram, bus or cab from Victoria to Piccadilly. The new proposed services will bring direct London trains through to Victoria and breathe new life into this architectural gem. The trudge to Piccadilly will no longer be needed. They will also provide Rochdale
with an invaluable link with the capital and boost its regeneration potential.
“Bringing direct London trains to Newton-le-Willows also has huge connectivity advantages. People who live in this large urban area currently have to drive to Warrington Bank Quay for their nearest direct London services or go into Manchester. In the same way for those in Eccles and therefore the Salford area, Manchester Piccadilly is the nearest station for direct London services. This can and must change.”
A key challenge for transport ministers is getting more people on trains and out of cars. Tony Lodge argues this will only happen if the trains are better, reach more places and the fares are competitive.
He concluded: “More people will use rail if they feel the service is value for money, fast and reliable. Studies show that when people have to change trains this reduces demand by 50% and they might choose the car or coach. These new train plans will boost connectivity, inward investment and levelling up. Greater Manchester’s civic, political and business leaders should push hard for their swift approval.”
