Unsure if to create a new thread for this as it ties in with SLC Rail's involvement. RAIL Magazine is reporting that two new cross-country open access applications have been submitted for consultation by consultancy firm SLC Rail, the same group responsible for being behind the Wrexham, Shropshire & Midlands Railway proposal. I will link the online version (also present in print form) but not quote whole the article due to copyright reasons but in summary they submitted two open-access routes: https://www.railmagazine.com/news/2...-routes-set-to-be-submitted-to-rail-regulator
The first is the "Midland Central & Western Railway" (MCWR) proposal, running from Bristol to Nottingham via the East West Rail. The second is the "Liverpool & South Wales Railway" (L&SWR) proposal, running from Liverpool to Rhoose International Airport via the Welsh Marches line. Both are intended to have eight trains per day in each direction (six on Sundays), with path requests to last seven years and utilise Class 221 or 222 units.
In the RAIL article...
And here are the maps accompanying the two routes:
The first is the "Midland Central & Western Railway" (MCWR) proposal, running from Bristol to Nottingham via the East West Rail. The second is the "Liverpool & South Wales Railway" (L&SWR) proposal, running from Liverpool to Rhoose International Airport via the Welsh Marches line. Both are intended to have eight trains per day in each direction (six on Sundays), with path requests to last seven years and utilise Class 221 or 222 units.
In the RAIL article...
L&SWR says it believes there is “significant merit” in introducing direct ‘inter-city’ styled services on the main line route between Liverpool, the Marches, and Cardiff.
Such a service already features as an aspiration in the Western Gateway Partnership ‘Rail Deal’ published earlier this year. The introduction of direct trains would also cut journey times between several stations on both routes, compared with existing services.
And here are the maps accompanying the two routes:

