{"id":258658,"date":"2025-07-29T17:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-29T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?guid=8b4f6b8cddf13e7aff581b948d409768"},"modified":"2025-07-29T17:00:00","modified_gmt":"2025-07-29T07:00:00","slug":"orr-approves-limited-new-passenger-services-on-east-coast-main-line-from-december-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=258658","title":{"rendered":"ORR approves limited new passenger services on East Coast Main Line from December 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden\">ORR approves limited new passenger services on East Coast Main Line from December 2025<\/span><br \/>\n<span class=\"field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden\"><time datetime=\"2025-07-29T07:00:00+00:00\" title=\"Tuesday, 29 July, 2025 - 07:00\" class=\"datetime\">Tue, 29\/07\/2025 &#8211; 07:00<\/time><br \/>\n<\/span><br \/>\n<span class=\"orr-published-date\">29 July 2025<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"field field--name-field-standfirst field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item\">The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has approved some additional services from December 2025 for three open access operators, extending or adding to their existing services on the East Coast Main Line (ECML).<\/div>\n<div class=\"field field--name-field-cover-image field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden\">\n<div class=\"field__label visually-hidden\">Cover Image<\/div>\n<div class=\"field__item\">\n<article class=\"media media--type-image media--view-mode-demo-cover\">\n<div class=\"field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-visually_hidden\">\n<div class=\"field__label visually-hidden\">Image<\/div>\n<div class=\"field__item\">  <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.orr.gov.uk\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/demo_cover\/public\/2025-07\/wcml-decision-cover-image.jpg?itok=pRJEG6bk\" width=\"1020\" height=\"575\" alt=\"Railway tracks\" class=\"image-style-demo-cover\"><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden\">\n<div class=\"field__label visually-hidden\">Body<\/div>\n<div class=\"field__item\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"field field--name-field-components field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-visually_hidden\">\n<div class=\"field__label visually-hidden\">Components<\/div>\n<div class=\"field__items\">\n<div class=\"field__item\">\n<div class=\"paragraph paragraph--type--text paragraph--view-mode--default\">\n<div class=\"clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item\">\n<p>ORR said the additional services from East Coast Trains Limited (Lumo), Grand Central Rail Company Limited (Grand Central) and Hull Trains Company Limited (Hull Trains) will offer passengers extra direct rail links between London King\u2019s Cross and Glasgow, Hull and Newcastle and also introduce links to other destinations, including Seaham, on the North East coast. ORR\u2019s decisions also mean more services between Wakefield and Bradford.<\/p>\n<p>The additional approved services are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Grand Central:<\/strong> two additional Wakefield Kirkgate to Bradford Interchange services on weekdays and Saturdays; one additional Bradford Interchange to Wakefield Kirkgate service on weekdays and Saturdays; and one additional Bradford Interchange to Wakefield Kirkgate service in each direction on Sundays, and some additional Seaham calls on existing services<\/li>\n<li><strong>Hull Trains:<\/strong> one additional northbound service weekdays and Saturdays between London King\u2019s Cross and Hull<\/li>\n<li><strong>Lumo (Newcastle):<\/strong> one additional return service between London King\u2019s Cross and Newcastle on weekdays and one additional service in opposing directions on a Saturday and Sunday<\/li>\n<li><strong>Lumo (Glasgow extensions):<\/strong> the extension of existing London King\u2019s Cross-Edinburgh services so that Lumo can provide two northbound services and one southbound service between London King\u2019s Cross and Glasgow on weekdays and one in each direction on Sundays<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>ORR said it rejected other proposed services from the above applicants, on the basis of insufficient capacity and potential performance impacts, or impact on the Secretary of State\u2019s funds. The rail regulator also rejected an application from Hull Trains for new services between London King\u2019s Cross and Sheffield.<\/p>\n<p>In making its decisions, ORR said it put weight on its duties to promote the use of Britain\u2019s rail network, help give certainty to train operators, promote competition for the benefit of passengers and have regard to the funds available to the Secretary of State.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Stephanie Tobyn, ORR\u2019s director of strategy, policy and reform, said:<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"field__item\">\n<div class=\"styling-options--alignment--left pull-quote-size--big paragraph paragraph--type--pull-quote paragraph--view-mode--default\">\n<div class=\"pull-quote-container\">\n<div class=\"pull-quote-text\">\n<div class=\"clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item\">\n<p>&#8220;Approving these additional open access services will increase connectivity on the East Coast Main Line. Importantly, we have ensured the approval of these services can be accommodated alongside the major service uplifts by other operators, which have been planned into the December 2025 timetable, so together passengers and freight customers can benefit from more direct connections and greater choice from December.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"field__item\">\n<div class=\"paragraph paragraph--type--text paragraph--view-mode--default\">\n<div class=\"clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item\">\n<h2>Notes to editors<\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.orr.gov.uk\/sites\/default\/files\/2025-07\/2025-07-29-ecml-decision-letter.pdf\" data-entity-type=\"media\" data-entity-uuid=\"dc0cf54b-6c8c-46e9-9ad8-772b805d4d00\" data-entity-substitution=\"media\">Decision on applications for access to the East Coast Main Line (ECML)<\/a> \u2013 letter to applicants<\/li>\n<li>Applicants\u2019 complete list of proposed services:\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Grand Central additional rights (December 2025 to December 2027)<\/strong><br \/>Monday \u2013 Saturday; two additional return services between Bradford Interchange and London King\u2019s Cross; one additional return service between York and London King\u2019s Cross; one additional service between London King\u2019s Cross and Wakefield Kirkgate; two new services in each direction between Wakefield Kirkgate and Bradford Interchange; and additional calls at Peterborough and Seaham Stations in some services. Sunday: one additional return between Bradford Interchange and London King\u2019s Cross; one new return service between York and London King\u2019s Cross; and Peterborough and Seaham station calls to be added in some services.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Hull Trains (May 2026 to December 2032)<\/strong><br \/>Two daily return services from London King\u2019s Cross to Sheffield via Retford with intermediate stops at Worksop and Woodhouse and one daily return service between Meadowhall and Sheffield.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Hull Trains (December 2025 to December 2032)<\/strong><br \/>One return service between London King\u2019s Cross and Hull on weekdays and Saturdays.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Lumo, Newcastle (December 2025 to May 2033)<\/strong><br \/>One return service between London King\u2019s Cross and Newcastle on weekdays and one train in opposing directions on Saturday and Sunday, and to extend existing services to call at Stevenage.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Lumo, Edinburgh-Glasgow extensions<\/strong><br \/>Four return services between Edinburgh and Glasgow Queen Street on weekdays, five services on Saturdays and three services on Sundays with an additional Glasgow Queen Street to Edinburgh service daily.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>The rights we have approved to operate Grand Central&#8217;s services are on a contingent basis&nbsp;due to the potential for the operator needing to adjust its depot strategy, and consequently Empty Coaching Stock moves, from 2028. The additional Seaham calls may conflict with future firm rights already granted to Nexus (the Tyne &amp; Wear metro operator) for an additional train per hour to\/from Sunderland. On this basis Network Rail requested the rights are approved on a time-limited and contingent basis, with no presumption of continuity of rights beyond December 2026.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.orr.gov.uk\/sites\/default\/files\/2025-01\/open-access-applications-guidance.pdf\" data-entity-type=\"media\" data-entity-uuid=\"2839164d-ace9-480e-9a0e-e963c828c03f\" data-entity-substitution=\"media\">ORR\u2019s open access guidance<\/a><\/li>\n<li>ORR is the independent safety and economic regulator for Britain\u2019s railways. ORR ensures that passenger train companies and freight companies have fair access to the rail network and that best use is made of capacity.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"field__item\">\n<div class=\"paragraph paragraph--type--related-documents paragraph--view-mode--default\">\n<div class=\"field__label\">\n<div class=\"field field--name-field-title field--type-string field--label-hidden page__related page__related--documents field__item\">\n<h2>Downloads<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"field field--name-field-related-document field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden page__related page__related--documents field__items doc__items\">\n<div class=\"field__item single-document\">\n<article class=\"file-type--pdf media media--type-document media--view-mode-related-item\">\n<div class=\"field field--name-name field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item\">\n<div class=\"related-document-link\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.orr.gov.uk\/sites\/default\/files\/2025-07\/2025-07-29-ecml-decision-letter.pdf\"  class=\"media-link\" title=\"Open access applications for access to the East Coast Main Line (ECML): decision letter dated 29 July 2025  (pdf 283.14 KB)\" aria-label=\"Open access applications for access to the East Coast Main Line (ECML): decision letter dated 29 July 2025 \">Open access applications for access to the East Coast Main Line (ECML): decision letter dated 29 July 2025  (pdf 283.14 KB)<\/a><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"orr-published-date\">Published 29 July 2025<\/span>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"field field--name-field-media-document field--type-file field--label-visually_hidden\">\n<div class=\"field__label visually-hidden\">Document<\/div>\n<div class=\"field__item\">\n<div class=\"js-form-item form-item js-form-type-item form-type-item js-form-item- form-item- form-no-label\">\n        PDF 283.14 KB\n        <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"more-info-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.orr.gov.uk\/media\/27206\" class=\"more-info-link media-link\" title=\"More info\" aria-label=\"More info on Open access applications for access to the East Coast Main Line (ECML): decision letter dated 29 July 2025 \">More info<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"download-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.orr.gov.uk\/media\/27206\/download\" class=\"download-link media-link media-download-link\" title=\"Download\" aria-label=\"Download Open access applications for access to the East Coast Main Line (ECML): decision letter dated 29 July 2025 \">Download<\/a><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"button-contain\">\n                      <button class=\"document-related__btn\" aria-label=\"Show more Downloads\">Show more<\/button>\n                  <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"field field--name-field-related-links field--type-link field--label-above page__related page__related--links\">\n<div class=\"field__label\">Related links<\/div>\n<div class=\"field__items\">\n<div class=\"field__item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.orr.gov.uk\/rail-guidance-compliance\/network-access\/regulated-networks\/network-rail\/current-applications\/competing\/passenger\">Passenger operators: 2024 and 2025 competing track access applications<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"field__item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.orr.gov.uk\/rail-guidance-compliance\/network-access\/regulated-networks\/network-rail\/decisions\/s22a\">Disputed amendment to contracts (section 22a)<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>ORR approves limited new passenger services on East Coast Main Line from December 2025<br \/>\nTue, 29\/07\/2025 &#8211; 07:00<\/p>\n<p>29 July 2025<\/p>\n<p>            The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has approved some additional services from December 2025 for three open access o&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":1,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-258658","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/258658","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=258658"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/258658\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":261838,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/258658\/revisions\/261838"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=258658"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=258658"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=258658"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}