Avanti awarded long-term contract to continue running West Coast Mainline

Rail operating company, Avanti West Coast, has been awarded a long-term contract to continue running West Coast Mainline services between London and the North-west, the Department for Transport (DfT) has announced.

The award of a long-term contract, which will have a core term of three years and a maximum possible term of nine years, follows significant improvements to service provision since summer 2022, when driver shortages and industrial action led Avanti to cancel the majority of services and impose a highly reduced timetable across its network. As a result of the disruption, which also affected TransPennine Express and led to the rail operator coming under DfT control, Avanti was placed on two short-term six month contracts and a recovery plan aimed at addressing poor performance.

Following the implementation of Avanti’s recovery plan, which prioritised new driver recruitment and training, service levels have increased to their highest levels in two years, with 264 trains operating on weekdays across its network, which connects London Euston with Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, North Wales, Glasgow and Edinburgh. Cancellations have also now fallen to as low as 1.1% in July 2023, down from 13% of trains at the start of the year, with 90% of services arriving within 15 minutes of their scheduled time. Avanti West Coast’s new contract will start from 15th October 2023.

Commenting on the DfT’s decision to renew Avanti West Coast’s contract, Transport Secretary Mark Harper said:

“The routes Avanti West Coast operate provide vital connections, and passengers must feel confident that they can rely on the services to get them where they need to be at the right time.

“Over the past year, short-term contracts were necessary to rebuild the timetable and reduce cancellations. Now Avanti are back on track, providing long-term certainty for both the operator and passengers will best ensure that improvements continue.”

Commenting on the announcement, Avanti West Coast Managing Director Andy Mellors said:

“The National Rail Contract for the West Coast Partnership announced today provides stability for customers and colleagues as we continue to rebuild trust as well as confidence. 

“Over the last six months, we have delivered significant and sustained improvements in operational performance and customer satisfaction. Cancellations that Avanti West Coast is responsible for have stabilised at below two percent of scheduled services. The last year has been challenging but I would like to thank our customers as well as stakeholders for their patience.

“There are still challenges ahead but plenty to look forward to on our network including customer benefits such as the continued award-winning refurbishment of our Pendolinos and the introduction of our new Hitachi fleet, which will increase capacity and further improve our sustainability credentials.”

Shamit Gaiger, Managing Director, of West Coast Partnership Development, said:

“The new National Rail Contract will enable us to continue to focus on the design, development and implementation of future high-speed services on the network as we aim to set new standards in UK rail.

“We are committed to working with our partners to realise the benefits these services will provide to our economy, communities and passengers. As the infrastructure is built, we will ensure customers are at the heart of future high-speed services on the West Coast.”

Cross Country Trains, which operates links between Manchester and Stockport to the South-west and South Coast via Birmingham among other routes, has also seen its contract renewed for a core term of four years, and a maximum of eight years. The new contract, also in effect from 15th October, will see the replacement and refurbishment of the operator’s existing fleet of trains, as well as the introduction of new routes on its network between Cardiff, the North-east and Scotland.

CrossCountry’s Managing Director, Tom Joyner, said,

“This is great news for our customers and stakeholders and recognises the importance of our continuing to deliver long-distance business and leisure services across England, Scotland and Wales.

“Our trains connect towns and cities, people and communities across Great Britain, playing an essential role in people’s lives. We look forward to working closely with stakeholders to further improve the customer experience in the years to come.”