An ORR spokesperson said: “Our decision on the Manchester-London service was based on robust evidence provided by Network Rail that adding services within ‘firebreak’ paths on the West Coast Main Line would have a detrimental impact on performance.
“We identified that this service would run in one of those paths. If Avanti operates the service as empty coaching stock (ECS), ECS can be run more flexibly (delayed or re-routed) than a booked passenger service.
“This can assist with performance management and service recovery during disruption.”
The ORR said Avanti was previously given the right to run this service from May 2025 for the duration of one timetable period only.
This was on the basis that First Lumo’s Stirling services were not operating at the time but the First Lumo services are expected to begin operating during the December 2025 timetable period.
The ORR added that under the new timetable, new open access train services, run by First Lumo to Stirling in Scotland, were due to start.