Avanti West Coast to transfer to public ownership in 2027

The government has announced that Avanti West Coast will transfer to public ownership on March 7, 2027, when its operating contract ends, as part of a plan that includes infrastructure maintenance and service improvements. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the government would introduce an improvement plan focused on passengers, infrastructure and reducing delays. The transfer will change who operates Avanti’s passenger services on the West Coast Main Line. It does not itself establish that reliability or the passenger experience has improved. The government has described the change as part of its wider programme to bring contracted passenger rail services into public ownership. The government said it would provide an additional £10 million for power and signalling maintenance on the West Coast Main Line, alongside £840 million already pledged for infrastructure improvements. Announced measures also include revised timetables, with particular attention to services to and from Manchester, and efforts to improve onboard connectivity. The sources do not set out a complete delivery schedule for the wider improvement plan.