PASSENGERS have been left furious as Avanti are set to run an empty ghost train to London.
In a controversial ruling from the rail regulator, the weekday morning service from Manchester to London will run without passengers for around five months.
The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has ruled the 7am Avanti West Coast service from Manchester Piccadilly to London will only carry staff members from December.
A popular option for commuters, the super-fast train meant they could reach the capital from Manchester in just under two hours.
But from December 15, which marks the launch of a new timetable, no passengers will be able to buy a ticket.
Instead, the ghost train is set to run for more than 100 journeys with just Avanti staff members on board.
Avanti will be stripped of the access rights for four weekday services overall, including the 7am Manchester to London route.
A spokesperson for the ORR told the BBC that the decision was based on “robust evidence” from Network Rail.
The evidence argued that running the service with no passengers would allow more flexibility to better assist with “service recovery”.
It stressed the need for “firebreak paths” on the West Coast Main Line and said running the service could have a “detrimental impact on performance”.
While an Avanti West Coast spokesperson said they were “disappointed” by the decision, adding that it would “clearly impact customers”
Four Monday to Friday services will be axed under the new changes while the Sunday service running from Holyhead to London will now terminate at Crewe instead.
The other routes axed include the 12:52pm Blackpool North to London Euston and the 9:39am service in the opposite direction.
While the 7.32pm Chester to London Euston route will also be removed.
Rail passengers have taken to social media, furious with the decision branding it a “total disgrace” and an “absolute farce”.
One user said: “What an absurd decision. This’ll make the British Airways Manchester to Heathrow flight all the more appealing, at a time when government want people to travel more sustainably.”
“Absolutely mental and why Britain is falling to bits,” added another.
While a third said it was a “truly nuts” situation.
Avanti said that despite the changes, there would still be more services delivered across their network from the start of the next timetable, “including further additional trains on our Liverpool route.”
The ORR also pointed out that Avanti was only permitted to run the service for one timetable period from May 2025.
This was because First Lumo’s Stirling services were not yet running but they are expected to operate from the December timetable onwards.
The Sun has reached out to the ORR, Avanti and Network Rail for comment.
