New application for London-Blackpool rail route

Virgin Trains has submitted a new application to operate train services from London to Blackpool and Shrewsbury after losing an appeal last week. The train operator believes it can start up the services from May after previously been denied a launch in December by Network Rail on the rounds it would impact performance. An appeal to the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) on 31 July was also unsuccessful but has not discouraged the company from submitting new proposals. “The May 2014 timetable changes are 10 months away and we expect Network Rail to significantly improve performance by then,” said Virgin Trains’ production director Phil Bearpark. “We have continued to work with Network Rail to ensure that they improve performance. It is now down to them to ensure that they honour their commitments on this and for the ORR to hold them to account.” Virgin and ORR’s chief executive Richard Price were in agreement that the service should be “looked at again as soon as possible” when Network Rail’s performance improves. Virgin’s new proposal would align with Network Rail’s May deadline to up its game or receive a GBP72 million fine from the ORR. Network Rail already has plans to inject GBP40m into the West Coast mainline to improve punctuality. Source: Traveldaily