One of England’s fastest and most well-known train services has been axed, mostly.
The 7am Manchester Picadilly to London Euston service will cease to carry passengers after the rail regulators timetable changes take place in mid-December. This timetable change is rumoured to be in place for 5 months until the next timetable change in May.
Here is a map showing the stations and stops of the route, that puts the speed and distance of the service in perspective:
The service was branded a ‘lifesaver’ by many, as its speed had commuters in London before 9am after leaving Piccadilly station at 7am. What may be even more difficult for regular users of the service is the fact it’s not out of sight, the train will remain ready to leave Manchester at 7, just without opening its doors to passengers. This is because it needs to transfer the train and the staff from Manchester to London in order for them to be used in other services operating out of Euston station.
The service was the fastest on the timetable, completing the cross-country journey in just under 2 hours, a timing that will be sorely missed by its regular passengers.
The ORR (Office of Rail and Road) said that the service could no longer fit in the timetable due to the start of new open access train services heading to Stirling in Scotland. Avanti, the operators of the service, told the Guardian that they were “disappointed” with the Office of Rail and Road’s decision, and that “this will clearly impact those customers who already use these services.”
Those who want to get to London from Manchester on the train by 9am will now have to catch a train at 6:29, disrupting the traditions and routines of regular commuters. Arjun Duggal, a regular user of the service, says the change is not only a waste of taxpayers’ money, but a huge inconvenience in the days of working people:
“It’s just a waste, it’s an empty train, why is the taxpayer’s money going towards that?
Arjun says the cancellation of the passenger journey “ruins his schedule”, forcing him to get an earlier or later train. “I either bundle out the house an hour earlier or I’m late to work, it makes no sense”
Unfortunately, It won’t be just Arjun experiencing this issue, it seems every commuter who planned their work day around the 7AM service is being forced into change. Many will have questions and disputes about the empty service, but no matter the outpour, the 7am service to Euston will mostly be a ghost train for the foreseeable future.
The ORR say the change will be beneficial to the railways, and Avanti will be running more services to the north-west overall under the new timetable, which comes into effect on the 15th of December. Only time will tell whether this timetable change will be positive or negative in the future.