Regulator backtracks on ghost train plan Текст: Plans to ban passengers from a peak morning train service between Manchester and London have been abandoned after a U-turn by a government regulator. The Office of Road and Rail (ORR) reversed its decision to run the 07:00 GMT Avanti West Coast service from Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston without passengers after a public backlash. On Sunday,the ORR announced only staff would be on boardas of mid-December – citing concerns that allowing passengers to get on would harm the overall performance of the line. But just over 24 hours later, an ORR spokesperson said after listening to feedback it would give Network Rail and Avanti permission to continue running the service with passengers. On the basis of the information we have, we believe the running of this 7am service could have a negative impact on reliability and punctuality of services on the West Coast Main Line, but we recognise its importance and popularity and will support its continued operation, the ORR spokesperson continued. In light of the U-turn Avanti West Coast has said it is delighted that the Office of Rail and Road has given permission to reinstate the 07:00 Manchester to Euston weekday service in their December timetable. The original decision would have had a detrimental impact on customers who use this train and this development is a welcome boost for those who want to take advantage of a sub two-hour service between two of the UKs major cities, A spokesperson for Avanti West Coast said. The ORR has confirmed the U-turn only relates to the 07:00 GMT Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston service. It said the following services would not be running: 12:52 GMT: Blackpool North – London Euston (Monday to Friday) 09:39 GMT: London Euston – Blackpool North (Monday to Friday) 19:32 GMT: Chester – London Euston (Monday to Friday) 17:53 GMT: Holyhead – London Euston terminates at Crewe (Sunday) | News | london-news-net.preview-domain.com

Regulator backtracks on ghost train plan Текст: Plans to ban passengers from a peak morning train service between Manchester and London have been abandoned after a U-turn by a government regulator. The Office of Road and Rail (ORR) reversed its decision to run the 07:00 GMT Avanti West Coast service from Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston without passengers after a public backlash. On Sunday,the ORR announced only staff would be on boardas of mid-December – citing concerns that allowing passengers to get on would harm the overall performance of the line. But just over 24 hours later, an ORR spokesperson said after listening to feedback it would give Network Rail and Avanti permission to continue running the service with passengers. On the basis of the information we have, we believe the running of this 7am service could have a negative impact on reliability and punctuality of services on the West Coast Main Line, but we recognise its importance and popularity and will support its continued operation, the ORR spokesperson continued. In light of the U-turn Avanti West Coast has said it is delighted that the Office of Rail and Road has given permission to reinstate the 07:00 Manchester to Euston weekday service in their December timetable. The original decision would have had a detrimental impact on customers who use this train and this development is a welcome boost for those who want to take advantage of a sub two-hour service between two of the UKs major cities, A spokesperson for Avanti West Coast said. The ORR has confirmed the U-turn only relates to the 07:00 GMT Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston service. It said the following services would not be running: 12:52 GMT: Blackpool North – London Euston (Monday to Friday) 09:39 GMT: London Euston – Blackpool North (Monday to Friday) 19:32 GMT: Chester – London Euston (Monday to Friday) 17:53 GMT: Holyhead – London Euston terminates at Crewe (Sunday)

December 1, 2025

Plans to ban passengers from a peak morning train service between Manchester and London have been abandoned after a U-turn by a government regulator.

The Office of Road and Rail (ORR) reversed its decision to run the 07:00 GMT Avanti West Coast service from Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston without passengers after a public backlash.

On Sunday,the ORR announced only staff would be on boardas of mid-December – citing concerns that allowing passengers to get on would “harm the overall performance” of the line.

But just over 24 hours later, an ORR spokesperson said after listening to feedback it would give Network Rail and Avanti permission to continue running the service with passengers.

“On the basis of the information we have, we believe the running of this 7am service could have a negative impact on reliability and punctuality of services on the West Coast Main Line, but we recognise its importance and popularity and will support its continued operation,” the ORR spokesperson continued.

In light of the U-turn Avanti West Coast has said it is “delighted” that the Office of Rail and Road has given permission to reinstate the 07:00 Manchester to Euston weekday service in their December timetable.

“The original decision would have had a detrimental impact on customers who use this train and this development is a welcome boost for those who want to take advantage of a sub two-hour service between two of the UK’s major cities,” A spokesperson for Avanti West Coast said.

The ORR has confirmed the U-turn only relates to the 07:00 GMT Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston service. It said the following services would not be running:

12:52 GMT: Blackpool North – London Euston (Monday to Friday)

09:39 GMT: London Euston – Blackpool North (Monday to Friday)

19:32 GMT: Chester – London Euston (Monday to Friday)

17:53 GMT: Holyhead – London Euston terminates at Crewe (Sunday)

US student killed lover in self-defence, jury told Текст: A US student accused of fatally stabbing a sexual partner had split seconds to defend himself against his angry lover, a court has heard. Joshua Michals, 26, denies the murder of 31-year-old Zhe Wang, a fellow student at Goldsmiths, University of London. Ms Wang was found with two stab wounds to her face at her flat in Manor Park, Lewisham, south-east London, after the defendant called 999 in March 2024. Brian St Louis KC, defending, told jurors at the Old Bailey that Mr Michals acted in self-defence when Ms Wang attacked him with a knife, suffering her injuries in the struggle. Ms Wang had sent a message to Mr Michals, of Deals Gateway in Deptford, south-east London, the day before her death saying: I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, Mr St Louis said. She was angry and she was out to deal with the person who was the bane of her life. He had split seconds to do whatever he could to make sure that he was not stabbed and that he was not seriously injured. During the incident, he kept telling Ms Wang to calm down, to stop… but she did not calm down, and everything he did was acting in self-defence. Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Mr Michals previously told the court Ms Wang became stressed, believing – incorrectly – she had contracted a sexually transmitted disease after they had sex. A post-mortem examination revealed Ms Wang, a Chinese national, died from stab wounds to the head and compression to the neck, the trial heard. Mr Michals previously told jurors he did not mean to strike Ms Wang with the knife, saying: I just wanted to get her away from me. He also said he pressed his forearm to her neck to try to restrain her and insisted he did not mean to kill her or cause her harm. The trial heard Mr Michals called his father and obtained the details for a solicitor before arriving at his flat and phoning an ambulance. He also took Ms Wangs phone from her kitchen and put it in a bin outside, jurors were told. It was recovered days later at a refuse area in Newham, east London.

rimmaruslan98@gmail.com December 1, 2025

London

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