Avanti West Coast train services will be nationalised starting in March 2026, according to an announcement from the government. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander stated, "For years, we've heard stories of Avanti underperforming, with passengers left paying the price. Enough is enough." This decision is part of a broader government initiative aimed at enhancing rail infrastructure, reducing train delays, and improving passenger experiences.
Avanti West Coast's managing director, Andy Mellors, expressed pride in the achievements of the company over the past six years, noting that their contract was set to expire on March 7, 2026. In a social media post, Prime Minister Andy Burnham supported Alexander's remarks, highlighting the issues faced by passengers, including cancellations and overcrowding.
Mellors added, "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." In May, Avanti West Coast announced a reduction of one-in-seven rail services on its busiest routes following a government request to cut spending.
Avanti West Coast operates as a joint venture between FirstGroup (70%) and Italian state operator Trenitalia (30%). The company indicated that the nationalisation would cause minimal disruption to passengers and would not affect revenues. The Department for Transport (DfT) has significantly influenced the finances of train companies due to contracts established in March 2020 amid the Covid-19 pandemic. All train services under DfT contracts are transitioning to public ownership.
Great Western Railway, owned by FirstGroup, is also set to be nationalised in December. Several rail companies, including Great Anglia and South Western Railway, are already publicly owned. Welsh rail services were nationalised in 2021, followed by Scotland in 2022.