At last some good news for Rail users, but why not more?

First TransPennine Express have announced that they are to run direct trains from Blackpool to Glasgow from from July to September at weekends. I guess they are using spare capacity over the weekend. A direct rail link between the two cities has not existed for nearly 20 years.

So if you are going to Blackpool this summer expect to hear more Scottish voices than normal, especially in Stag and Hen weekends!

This makes me wonder why more of these Summer trains cannot be run, as there must be other routes where people could take weekend breaks or day returns to the seaside, or major cities. When I grew up "Holidaymaker" and "Merrymaker" trains were commonplace, and if the fare is right?

No doubt the bureaucracy of today's railway and the sorry state of the new Network Rail Train Planning system will prevent anything like this happening, but does it open the door to other operators to make use of stock otherwise laying in sidings until Monday morning?