A peculiar scene is unfolding on the railway line between Manchester and London. Starting next month, the 7am Avanti West Coast express, a favored route for business travelers, will depart Piccadilly station…completely empty of passengers.
Imagine watching a sleek, modern train – capable of whisking you to the capital in under two hours – pull away from the platform, its carriages pristine and unoccupied. This isn’t a drill, nor a temporary disruption. For the next six months, it will run solely with staff onboard, a ghost train on a vital route.
The decision, made by the rail regulator, has sparked outrage and confusion. Passengers are questioning the logic of operating a full-sized train, consuming vast amounts of energy and requiring a full crew, simply to run without a single fare-paying customer. The usual cost of a standard class ticket on this route can reach £195.
Rail experts describe the situation as surreal. One observer noted passengers will be able to “see it, touch it, watch it” depart, yet remain firmly on the platform. The justification centers around “firebreak” paths – dedicated slots intended to improve overall network reliability and aid in service recovery during disruptions.
The regulator argues that running the service with only crew allows for greater flexibility in managing unforeseen issues. They claim “robust evidence” supports the need for these dedicated slots, even at the cost of a regularly scheduled passenger service. However, skepticism remains about the actual savings, if any, achieved by this unusual measure.
This isn’t an isolated change. A Sunday service to Holyhead will now terminate at Crewe, further altering travel patterns. Simultaneously, the regulator has blocked applications from other companies hoping to introduce competing services on the West Coast Mainline, including a bid from Richard Branson’s Virgin group.
While a new low-cost operator, Lumo, is slated to begin services to Stirling from Euston next year, the regulator’s decisions appear to prioritize maintaining the status quo for existing operators. This raises questions about competition and innovation within the rail network.
Avanti West Coast expressed disappointment over the cancellation of the 7am service, acknowledging the impact on its regular customers. The future of West Coast services remains in flux, with expectations of public ownership by spring 2027 looming on the horizon.
The empty train represents a larger debate about efficiency, prioritization, and the future of Britain’s railways – a visible symbol of complex decisions made behind the scenes, impacting the daily commutes and travel plans of thousands.
