Avanti remains 'committed' with Blackpool to London route after Grand Central axe plans

Arriva, parent operator to Grand Central, said it has cancelled its £21m plans to run trains between the resort and the capital as Covid-19 has made the "unfeasible".

However Avanti West Coast, which took over the West Coast mainline service from Virgin Trains in December, recommenced its services earlier this week after they were cancelled during lockdown and it says it will continue to offer the route to customers.

The train operating company deemed it a good time to reintroduce some services as more people go back to work and people start to travel to holiday destinations.

A new timetable, with its 285 services (Monday to Friday), represents just over 90 per cent of the normal pre-Covid levels.

Services to Blackpool North from Monday to Friday include:

The 7.15am Birmingham New Street to Blackpool North; the 1.43pm London Euston to Blackpool North (via Birmingham) and the 3.43pm London Euston to Blackpool North (via Birmingham).

Services from Blackpool North from Monday to Friday include: The 9.51am Blackpool North to London Euston (via Birmingham); 5.51pm Blackpool North to London Euston (via Birmingham) and the 7.43pm Blackpool North to Birmingham New Street.

On Saturday, there will be the 7.21am Birmingham New Street to Blackpool North; the 7.43am London Euston to Blackpool North and the 9.43am Blackpool North to Birmingham New Street.

There will also be the 11.50am Blackpool North to London Euston (via Birmingham); the 1.50pm Blackpool North to London Euston (via Birmingham) and the 3.54pm Blackpool North to London Euston (via Birmingham).