The rail regulator has approved the introduction of new train services between London, Cardiff and South West Wales from the end of 2024. The services will be operated by a new open access operator, Grand Union Trains, bringing competition to the Great Western route out of Paddington.
Passengers travelling between London, Bristol Parkway, Severn Tunnel Junction, Newport, Cardiff, Gowerton, Llanelli and Carmarthen will benefit from an extra five daily return services and greater choice of operator.
The decision opens up the Great Western Main Line to competition for the first time, with potential benefits in terms of lower fares, improved service quality and innovation for all passengers using the route.
The application, submitted to ORR in June 2022, was disputed by Network Rail due to concerns about capacity on the network. But following careful consideration and analysis, ORR has directed Network Rail to enter into a contract with Grand Union.
Grand Union has committed to significant investment in new trains. As an ‘open access’ train operator, however, it will not get paid subsidies from public funds, unlike current operators along the route.
ORR supports new open access where it delivers competition for the benefit of passengers. In making this decision, the regulator has weighed this up against the impact on Government funds and effect on other users of the railway, both passengers and freight customers.
Stephanie Tobyn, Director of Strategy, Policy and Reform at ORR said:
Notes to Editors
- Grand Union decision letter
- ORR is the independent safety and economic regulator for Britain’s railways. For track access, we make sure that passenger train companies and freight companies have fair access to the rail network and that best use is made of capacity.
- We determine track access applications in line with all our statutory duties as set out mainly in section 4 of the Railways Act 1993. These include, but are not limited to: promoting improvements in railway service performance, promoting the use of the network for passengers and goods, promoting competition for the benefit of rail users and having regards to the funds available to the Secretary of State and the strategies and policies of the Welsh Ministers.
- This application from Grand Union follows their previous application for seven daily return services between London Paddington and Carmarthen made in 2020, which we rejected in February 2021. Our reasons for that decision can be found in that decision letter.