FirstGroup

has
unveiled
plans
to
provide
open
access
services
between
Rochdale
and
London.

First
already
runs
open
access
services
from
Hull
and
Edinburgh,
and
says
the
trains
for
the
new
service
will
be
built
in
Britain.

An
application
has
been
submitted
to
the
Office
of
Rail
and
Road
to
provide
six
daily
return
journeys
between
Rochdale
and
London,
calling
at
Manchester
Victoria
,Eccles,
Newton-le-Willows
and
Warrington
Bank
Quay.
Some
of
the
intermediate
stations
would
also
be
convenient
for
other
places,
such
as
Eccles
for
other
parts
of
Salford,
and
Newton-le-Willows
for
St
Helens.

A
consultation
period
will
now
follow,
as
well
as
discussions
with
Network
Rail. If
the
application
is
successful,
the
service
could
start
in
2027.

FirstGroup
chief
executive
officer
Graham
Sutherland
said:
‘We
have
extensive
experience
of
running
open
access
rail
operations
and
we
want
to
bring
our
successful
Lumo
service
to
this
new
route
that
connects
Rochdale
and
London.

‘We
have
seen
the
level
of
growth
and
opportunity
that
is
possible
with
open
access,
as
well
as
the
positive
effect
it
has
on
the
wider
market,
including
economic
and
environmental
benefits.
In
addition,
the
new
service
will
help
to
drive
modal
shift
from
road
to
rail
between
the
North
West
and
London.
We
will
be
working
closely
with
stakeholders
as
we
build
our
application
and
our
case
for
this
new
service.’