UK transport secretary Heidi Alexander has announced that the government will nationalise Avanti West Coast train services “at the first opportunity” next year.
Avanti runs West Coast Main Line services from London’s Euston station to Glasgow and Edinburgh, as well as to Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham. It has been plagued by operational problems in recent years and will be nationalised from 7 March 2027.
“By bringing AWC’s services into public ownership in March 2027, West Coast services will soon be run in the interests of passengers, not private sector shareholders,” said the Department for Transport (DFT) in a statement.
“Avanti West Coast passengers have been experiencing frequent disruption on one of the country’s busiest routes for years. Performance remains behind the industry average, with passengers frequently frustrated by delays and cancellations.”
Avanti was granted a new long-term contract to run West Coast routes by the previous Conservative government in 2023. The contract could run for up to nine years but the DFT has used its option to terminate the deal after just three years.
The UK government has been gradually nationalising rail services as contracts with private operators have expired. This process is expected to be completed by the end of 2027 when the country’s rail services and infrastructure will be brought under the control of a new single public body, known as Great British Railways.
The DFT said that it would be spending an extra £10 million on power and signalling maintenance on the West Coast Main Line to help reduce delays and cancellations. Euston station is also undergoing a £50 million upgrade to its facilities over the next three years.