Britain’s busiest rail line is “at its limits” and likely to see increasing delays and cancellations, experts have warned, following plans to run a “ghost train” without passengers between Manchester and London to ease congestion.

The 7am Avanti West Coast service was due to depart with a full crew but no passengers from mid-December due to timetabling concerns raised by regulator the Office for Rail and Road (ORR).

Allowing the train to run as a passenger service “could have a negative impact on reliability and punctuality of services on the West Coast Main Line “, the ORR warned. New Feature

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But the move was reversed following a public outcry and criticism from Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander who said it was the “wrong decision

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