Manchester-London 7am 'ghost train' to carry passengers after outcry over regulator's decision

Northern Rail Link 'Ghost Train' Service Saved Amid Public Backlash, Regulator Concedes Defeat.

A contentious decision by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has been overturned after widespread criticism from politicians, business leaders, and ordinary passengers. The regulator had initially planned to axe the Manchester-London 7am Avanti service due to concerns over space for manoeuvre in case of disruption – despite Network Rail agreeing that the train could carry passengers as it was running.

The fast link between the two cities has long been a prized service, operating non-stop from Stockport and arriving at Euston just before 9am. It's no surprise given its speed, convenience, and revenue-generating potential that the rail minister, Peter Hendy, and transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, intervened on behalf of the passengers.

The move is seen as a victory for those who rely on the service, including full-time carers and business travellers. Chloe Chapman from Crewe described the news as "amazing" saying it will save her youngest child's hospital appointments by providing an essential, accessible lifeline.

Avanti has welcomed the decision to reinstate the 7am service in their December timetable, stating that it would have had a detrimental impact on customers who use this train.

As the only express service to run so quickly, it's no wonder that the rail regulator finally listened to public opinion and reconsidered its ruling. The reinstatement of this 'ghost train' is set to bring relief to passengers across the north and London, ensuring they can continue to travel between the two cities in just over an hour.

The reinstatement of this service marks a significant shift in the government's approach towards addressing rail issues and implementing policies that benefit users rather than regulators.
 
ugh, can't believe they even thought about axin it πŸ™„! I mean, who wants to spend 2 hours gettin' from manchester to london? this service is literally lifesavers for people like chloe chapman & her kid's hospital appointments πŸ’‰πŸš‚. and honestly, think about all the business travellers who rely on this train... not sayin' they can't afford a hotel room in london or summat πŸ˜…. glad peter hendy & heidi alexander stepped in & saved the day πŸ™Œ! it shows that sometimes, just listenin' to the public (and not tryin' 2 mess with people's lives) is the best decision πŸ’–
 
πŸš‚πŸ’¨ Guess you can't mess with passenger power! Avanti's gotta give credit to all those who spoke out, now we've got a faster link between Manchester & London πŸ•°οΈ
 
Wow πŸ˜‚ interesting how the public backlash saved the train! Avanti is totally justified, no way would cancelling it hurt customers, especially with hospital appointments at stake! πŸš«πŸ‘Ά Great to see the rail minister and transport secretary stepping in for passengers. It's all about the people now 🀝.
 
πŸš‚πŸ˜’ Finally some sense from the regulator... or should I say, the public made 'em back down πŸ™. Can't believe they even thought about scrapping it in the first place, all these years the service has been running smoothly. The thought of leaving those carers and business travellers high & dry is just ridiculous 😡. Anyone who doesn't get the value of a reliable link between the north & London clearly hasn't got a clue πŸ€”. Glad to see common sense prevailed in the end πŸ‘.
 
OMG u wont bliev its happened!!! 😱 Northern Rail Link "ghost train" servise jus got saved after all thoses who didnt want it 2 b axed spoke up & made a diff πŸ™ Avanti is happy too, they said it wud hurt ther custumers if its taken away πŸ€• Its like, whats wrong wth regulators 2 lissten 2 ppl? πŸ˜‚ This new policy shd be a big deal 4 those whos rely on dis servise, like full-time carers & biz travellers πŸ’― Chloe Chapman from Crewe is literally livin her best life now bc shes savd by 1 hr πŸš‚πŸ‘Ά
 
😊 I'm so glad they changed their mind about the Northern Rail Link 'Ghost Train' Service! It's crazy how much of a difference public opinion can make, you know? 🀯 The fact that it was originally planned to be axed just because of a minor issue with space for manoeuvre is wild. Like, what's next?! πŸ˜‚

I'm all for the government listening to their constituents and considering the impact on people's lives. It's amazing stories like Chloe Chapman's that really drive home why we need more services like this. I can only imagine how stressful it must be to have to plan around train schedules when you've got kids to care for! πŸ€·β€β™€οΈ

It's also a great reminder that politicians are accountable to the people, and that their decisions should benefit society as a whole, not just some obscure regulatory guidelines. Fingers crossed this is the start of a more passenger-centric approach to rail policy! πŸ’š
 
OMG, can u blve? Like, I was literally thinking about how stressed out my mum would be if she had to take our little one to hospital in Crewe without that train πŸš‚πŸ˜© and now it's back on the schedule! The rail link between Manchester and London is like, super important for us northeners πŸ€—. And I think this shows that when we speak up as a community, things can actually change πŸ“’πŸ’ͺ. Avanti was right to stand by their customers and Network Rail should've known it could handle the train πŸ™„. Anyways, now we can all breathe a sigh of relief 😌! πŸ‘
 
πŸš‚ This is a classic case of regulatory capture vs public interest πŸ€¦β€β™‚οΈ. The ORR was initially swayed by its own bureaucratic concerns, but when faced with public backlash, it suddenly became a champion for passenger rights πŸ’ͺ. It's interesting to see how the rail minister and transport secretary stepped in to save the day – does that mean they're finally listening to their constituents or just saving face? πŸ€” Either way, I think this is a win-win for passengers and businesses alike, but what about all the other services that are struggling to stay afloat due to funding cuts? Shouldn't we be prioritizing investments in our rail network instead of playing politics with passenger services? πŸš‚πŸ’Έ
 
πŸš‚πŸ‘ omg this is such a good news for all those commuters who rely on that train service, i was worried it was gonna get axed lol can imagine having to take like 4-5 trains just to get to london from manchester, the travel time would've been soooo long!! 🀯 avanti should totes be giving out free tickets to all the passengers who were affected by this decision lol, anyway glad the government listened to public opinion and reconsidered the ruling πŸ™
 
[gif: a train with a smiley face] Ah, public backlash is like, totally effective 🀩! Network Rail was all set to axe the Manchester-London 7am Avanti service, but passengers weren't having it πŸ˜’. The rail regulator finally listened and we're glad some people's "ghost trains" are back on track πŸš‚πŸ‘.

[Image: a baby in a stroller with a clock in the background] Hospital appointments? We've got you covered! βœ‹οΈ This service is like, totally essential for families 🀝. And who doesn't love a good train ride to London? πŸ—ΊοΈ
 
πŸ™Œ just think about all those people who rely on that train, especially those with little ones like Chloe's youngest child... can't imagine how stressful it must be to miss hospital appointments or work meetings because of a delayed train 😩 so glad the regulator finally listened to public opinion and reconsidered the ruling 🀝 it's not just about the 'ghost train' itself but about providing essential services for people's daily lives πŸ’•
 
πŸš‚πŸ’¨ The recent decision by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) to reinstate the Northern Rail Link 'Ghost Train' Service is a telling indicator of how public opinion can influence policy-making in the transportation sector 🀝. The swift intervention by rail minister Peter Hendy and transport secretary Heidi Alexander demonstrates a clear understanding of the need for convenience, accessibility, and revenue-generating potential in high-speed services ⏱️.

It's heartening to see that ordinary passengers, including full-time carers like Chloe Chapman, have had their voices heard, resulting in a more passenger-centric approach πŸ‘₯. The reinstatement of this service will undoubtedly bring relief to commuters across the north and London, underscoring the importance of balancing regulatory requirements with user needs πŸ“ˆ.

The ORR's decision can also be seen as a positive step towards greater collaboration between regulators, operators, and users in addressing rail issues 🀝. It will be intriguing to observe whether this shift in approach leads to more policy changes that prioritize passenger experience over bureaucratic considerations πŸ”.
 
Man, I was reading about this Northern Rail Link 'Ghost Train' Service and it's crazy how public backlash can change things πŸ™Œ. I mean, who wouldn't want to travel from Manchester to London in under an hour? It's like a game-changer for people who need to get around. Full-time carers and business travellers must be super relieved that this service is back on track πŸš‚.

I'm not surprised the rail minister and transport secretary stepped in – they should listen to their constituents, right? And it's awesome that Avanti welcomed the decision too. It just goes to show how important it is to balance regulation with what really matters: people's needs 🀝. So, yay for public opinion saving the day! πŸ‘
 
πŸ˜” I'm so glad this 'ghost train' is back on track! Those daily commuters, especially full-time carers like Chloe, must have been beside themselves when they heard the news. Can you imagine having your hospital appointments or business meetings affected because of a rail regulator's decision? 😩 It's amazing that politicians and transport officials stepped in to save this essential service.

It's a huge relief for everyone who relies on the Manchester-London 7am Avanti service, and I'm sure there are many more passengers who'll be breathing a sigh of relief too! πŸ’¨ The fact that public opinion was able to sway the regulator is such a great example of how we can make a difference when we speak up. Kudos to everyone who fought for this service – you're not alone, and your voices mattered πŸ™Œ
 
I'm so down with axing the 7am Avanti train service - I mean, who really needs to travel from Manchester to London in under an hour? πŸš«πŸ‘Ž It's just not that important. The congestion on the tracks is bad enough as it is and we should be focusing on more pressing issues like reducing speed limits or something. And can you imagine the environmental impact of all those trains zooming around the country? Not to mention the costs, I'm sure it's a huge burden on taxpayers...
 
I'm so glad they listened to the public! πŸ™Œ I mean, who wouldn't want to keep their morning commute under 1 hour? It's all about convenience and making a difference in people's lives. I've been following this story and it's great to see the government take into account what matters most - passengers' needs. The 'ghost train' service is such an important lifeline for families and business travelers, especially those with young children or elderly relatives relying on it. Kudos to Peter Hendy and Heidi Alexander for stepping in and making a difference! πŸ‘
 
I'm surprised it took the regulator so long to listen to public outcry πŸ™„, but I guess you can't blame them for wanting to stick to the rules... until people started complaining loudly πŸ˜‚. Now we've got a convenient service restored, which is great for those who rely on it - full-time carers like Chloe Chapman must be over the moon with joy 😊. But what's next? Are they gonna reinstate other cancelled services just because the public wants them back? The real test will be if this decision sparks more scrutiny and changes the way policies are made... πŸ‘€
 
omg, finally some sense from the ORR, who knew a bunch of grumpy politicians & business folks could bring down a train πŸš‚πŸ˜‚! But seriously, it's about time they listened to people who actually use this service, I mean, can you imagine having to take a bus or drive for 2 hours just to get to work? not exactly ideal πŸ˜’. Avanti is right, this 'ghost train' is a lifesaver (no pun intended) for a lot of people, especially those with family commitments like Chloe from Crewe πŸ€—. Glad they reinstated it, now let's hope the government can actually follow through on their promises and make some real changes to our rail network 🀞
 
πŸš‚πŸ’¨ I'm not surprised they did what they did, the public was gonna freak out if this thing got axed! It's like our voices actually matter for once 😊. But seriously though, it's about time the ORR listened to us commuters, this service is a game changer for people who rely on it. Full-time carers and business travelers can't afford to have their schedules messed with, they need that reliable lifeline ⏰. And Avanti's got a point too, this would've hurt customers who actually use the train, not just the politicians. Good job to Peter Hendy and Heidi Alexander for stepping in πŸ‘. Now let's see if they can do the same for other underfunded rail services around the UK 🀞
 
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