Avanti West Coast is set to transition into public ownership on March 7, marking a significant shift as the government continues its program of nationalizing passenger rail services. The move comes after sustained criticism regarding the operator’s performance, which has consistently ranked among the worst in the UK for delays and cancellations. It also runs services through the north-west of England and on to Wales, Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Andy Burnham expressed strong support for the decision, stating that “enough is enough” for commuters who have endured a service “that has failed them time and time again.” The operator, which connects London with major hubs including Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, and Glasgow, recorded a 7.1% cancellation rate between April and June of this year.
The Prime Minister has previously voiced concerns regarding the high cost of travel on the line, noting that peak-time returns between Manchester and London have reached prices as high as £300. The government plans to prioritize passengers over shareholders, promising to focus on reducing delays and improving basic service reliability as the public body Great British Railways prepares for full oversight in 2027. Not shareholders, will come first, that means passengers. “More investment, fewer delays, and a renewed focus on getting the basics right.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander is expected to formally confirm the transition during her speech at the Labour conference on Tuesday. She remarked that passengers have been “left paying the price” for the company’s long-term underperformance. She emphasized that the move aligns with the government’s broader commitment to bringing essential infrastructure back under public control to drive national growth. We’re putting essential services back in public hands and building a railway that actually works for the people who use it.”.
In contrast to the government’s position, Avanti West Coast managing director Andy Mellors defended the firm’s recent track record. He highlighted achievements over the past six years, including the refurbishment of the Pendolino fleet, the introduction of the new Evero trains, and an expansion of service frequency, which he argued provided better connectivity and capacity for customers. According to he, The improvements had 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”.
The transition of Avanti West Coast follows the recent nationalization of Chiltern Railways earlier this month, which became the sixth operator to be brought under state control under the current Labour government. Additional operators are slated for transfer in the coming months, with Great Western Railway expected to follow in December.
The phased nationalization project is scheduled to continue through 2027. East Midlands Railway is set to enter public ownership between this winter and mid-2027, while CrossCountry is currently the final operator on the list, with its transition planned for autumn 2027.
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