Rail regulator ORR (The Office of Rail and Road) will allow Grand Union Trains to compete with Great Western Railway (GWR) between South Wales and London Paddington.

Business Traveller reported on Grand Union’s plan for this route earlier this year but don’t hold your breath. The competition doesn’t take effect until the end of 2024.

Full details of ORR’s decision can be found on its website.

In short Grand Union will operate as many as five return services a day from London Paddington and Carmarthen, calling at Bristol Parkway, Seven Tunnel Junction, Newport, Cardiff, Gowerton and Llanelli.

Rolling stock details are not provided but trains will have to be diesel or bi-mode as the line is not electrified throughout.

Sadly, however, there is no immediate solution to the much publicised issues on the West Coast Mainline (WCML).

One solution (for part of the route) would have been Grand Central which was approved by ORR to operate between Blackpool and London Euston. Grand Central, however, cancelled its plans during the pandemic. See our report from September 2020.

Grand Central abandons West Coast Main Line plans

In 2021 Grand Union asked ORR for permission to operate between Stirling and London Euston.

As with Blackpool-London there would be a number of calling points, but ORR has yet to make its decision.

granduniontrains.co.uk