The early morning scramble for bacon sandwiches and coffee was more frantic than usual on the 07:00 Avanti West Coast service from Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston this Wednesday. For passengers and crew alike, this particular journey carried a newfound significance: just days before, it had been officially saved from the axe.
A 'Ghost Train' Plan Sparks Public Fury
The controversy began when plans emerged to turn the 07:00 service into what was dubbed a 'ghost train' – a service that would continue to run at high speed, crewed and empty of passengers, as part of a wider timetable shake-up by the rail regulator, the Office of Rail and Road. The rationale was to improve reliability on the busy West Coast Main Line by removing one of Britain's fastest intercity services, alongside four other less prominent Avanti routes.
"I don't think I've seen it this busy in years," remarked Liam, a customer service specialist on board, who struggled with a long queue of passengers. He noted the service had seen quieter periods since the rise of remote working, but the threat of cancellation had ironically revived its popularity. "Honestly, I actually think people had forgotten about it," he said. "They didn't realise it still ran or how useful it was until they announced it was getting cancelled."
Passengers Celebrate a Sensible U-Turn
The swift reversal came after significant public pressure, including interventions from Rail Minister Peter Hendy and Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander. On the reprieved service, the mood among regulars was one of vindicated relief.
Mike, a 55-year-old loyal passenger, called the original decision "a bit daft" and questioned whether it reflected a lack of consideration for travellers from the North. "Fast trains make a difference, don't they. Getting rid of this makes no sense," he argued, gazing out at the sunrise from his preferred spot by the carriage doors.
Another passenger, Alex, 32, from Manchester, was unaware the service had been under threat. "Why would they cancel it? What's the point of making life harder for people?" he asked, explaining he only travels to London when summoned by work. "Why get rid of the train that gets you there quickest?"
Reliability Questions Linger on the Line
Despite its reprieve, the future of the 07:00 service is not without challenges. The regulator's original concerns centred on punctuality. An analysis revealed that out of its last 11 journeys, only one arrived at London Euston on time. The total cumulative delay across those runs was 119 minutes – coincidentally the exact journey time promised on the ticket.
This reliability issue was evident on Wednesday's service, which arrived eight minutes late, bringing the total travel time to two hours and seven minutes. An Avanti employee confirmed delays were common, often due to congestion on the approach into London. "If one train is a minute behind, we are three minutes behind, and so on," they explained.
For now, the 07:00 from Manchester to London is secure, with passengers promised a working microwave from Thursday onwards. However, with endemic delays and its current profitability buoyed by a post-cancellation boom in attention, the long-term viability of this cherished but problematic service remains on the tracks, but not entirely out of the woods.
