Bid to revive Blackpool to London lunchtime train

Avanti West Coast has made a new bid to bring back an extra weekday London train service for Blackpool after a series of cuts.

The train operator said it wanted to add the extra service when the next timetables changes came in in May, but the move has not yet been approved.

It is thought this could be the 12.52 GMT service from the Lancashire resort to the capital.

The four daily direct services to and from London Euston were reduced to two a day last month.

An Avanti West Coast spokesperson said: "As with every timetable change, we have bid for the additional services that we wish to run, and these are subject to approval by the Office of Rail and Road."

He added: "These services, which may be showing in some online rail systems, are not confirmed."

Blackpool South MP Chris Webb has confirmed he will meet Transport Minister Lord Peter Hendy after he raised concerns about the scale of cuts to the resort's rail links.

Avanti said the cuts to the Blackpool timetable was made by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR).

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