Avanti West Coast to be renationalised in 2027

The rail operator is set to return to public ownership from March next year, the government has announced.

Transport secretary Heidi Alexander will make a formal announcement on the plans for Avanti West Coast during her Labour Party conference speech in Liverpool tomorrow afternoon.

The company, which is owned by Firstgroup(70%) and Trenitalia(30%), will become the latest rail operator to become part of the embryonic Great British Railways when it moves under DfT control next year.

Avanti’s West Coast Main Line service provides intercity rail services for around 18m people across Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and London – but the firm has been criticised for having the poorest punctuality ratings of any large operator in the UK.

Speaking on social media, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Great British Railways would focus on “getting the basics right”, adding that passengers would see more investment and fewer delays.

“For years, people have been expected to put up with Avanti’s cancellations, delays, overcrowding, and a service that has failed them time and time again,” he said.

“We’re putting essential services back in public hands and building a railway that actually works for the people who use it.”

Announced as part of the Labour Party’s 2024 manifesto, the government’s rail renationalisation programme is gathering pace, with a total of six private operators now back under the control of the Department for Transport, with Great Western Railways also set return to public hands in December.

Great British Railways, the government-backed company intended to operate passenger rail services and most rail infrastructure in the UK, will be formally established with the passing of the forthcoming Railways Bill, which cleared the House of Commons in June.

It is expected to receive Royal Assent later this year.

Andy Mellors, managing director at Avanti West Coast, defended the firm’s record and said he was proud of what the company had achieved since taking over from Virgin Trains in late 2019.

“From refurbishing our Pendolino fleet and introducing our new Evero trains to running more services than ever before. Together, these improvements have given customers greater choice, more capacity and better connectivity, while we’ve continued to innovate to shape the future of the West Coast and wider rail industry,” he said.

“Over the coming months, we’ll work closely with the government to ensure a seamless transition into public ownership while remaining focused on delivering for our customers and communities.”