Is Open Access finished? ORR rejects ALL applications for new West Coast Main Line services | Ep 158

Is Open Access finished? We ask the question as ORR rejects ALL applications for new West Coast Main Line services

Is London-style ticketing the answer everywhere, or has technology moved on?

And Richard divides opinion on rolling stock financing. Again.

In this episode:

00:00 Intro
00:35 Is Open Access finished?
14:56 Is London-style ticketing the answer everywhere?
31:36 Rolling stock financing
40:19 Railway News round-up
40:22 Virgin new trains image
42:31 CrossCountry extra Voyagers
43:22 Class 350/2s to be refurbished for Northern
44:18 Retail Code of Practice for ticketing
45:16 400k Cambridge South passengers
46:19 Grand Central withdraws Grimsby plans
47:17 Hereford Transport Hub nears completion
48:21 Thanks to Supporters
49:34 The Railway Ball
51:37 Heritage News round-up
51:40 RAIB report on Bluebell Railway incident
54:18 Severn Valley Raise the Roof update
55:40 Wensleydale Pacer unveiled in Northern Spirit
56:14 The Quiz
59:19 Lumo’s new beer ‘Brewmo’

The Railway Ball video: https://railwayball.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Railway-Ball-2-Compressed-2.mp4%20%20

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Credits:
Thumbnail image - Lumo
Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)

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