A train company bidding to run direct services between London and Bradford along the West Coast Main Line is preparing to resubmit plans after the rail regulator refused its original submission.

Alliance Rail Holdings has produced a ‘briefing note’ outlining further details in its application to operate on the West Coast line, after the Office of Rail Regulation knocked back its original plans in March.

The company also wants to take services from London Euston to Leeds, Blackpool and Carlisle, along with passenger services every two hours between Bradford Interchange and London Euston via Newton-le-Willows and Rochdale.

The services, which the company has proposed to start in December, 2013, would be operated by new 125mph tilting trains.

Managing director Ian Yeowart said: “We are continuing to work with Network Rail on thinking about capacity for the route and we will be expecting to submit another application later this year.

“We are hoping we might be able to do this with Network Rail support but there’s still quite a lot of work to do. That will then put us in a position to evaluate the new timetable that is to be operational from 2013.

“The decision in March basically said there will not be any new operations on the West Coast until the timetable has been redeveloped for December 2013.”

Mr Yeowart said the briefing note it had released was to remind people the refusal was not the end of the line for the company. He said: “We didn’t think the regulator would make a decision in March. We thought it would continue on because there are so many variables.

All it means for us in the longer term is it will take a bit longer to get access to the network. The plans are still very much alive and still being worked on.

“The line will certainly improve services through the Calder Valley – it will give a far better and far faster link into Manchester, Cheshire and certain parts of Lancashire, as well as another direct link to London.”