Avanti West Coast to be nationalised next March – Daily Business

Cancellations on Britain’s north west rail service have been so bad that Andy Burnham made his first journey to Number 10 North by private jet.

Now Britain’s worst-performing railway, linking Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, Birmingham and London, will be taken into public ownership sooner than first planned.

The transition of Avanti West Coast, expected next October, will now take place in March, the earliest opportunity once its contract expires.

The Department for Transport awarded the franchise in August 2019 to the First Trenitalia consortium, owned by First Group, with Avanti West Coast starting operations on 8 December that year.

Labour says passengers have been experiencing frequent disruption on one of the country’s busiest routes for years.

Performance remains behind the industry average with passengers frequently frustrated by delays and cancellations. Infrastructure issues along the West Coast Main Line (WCML) resulting from long-term underinvestment are the biggest cause of disruption.

Nationalisation will take place on 7 March and Labour promises a dedicated improvement plan to fix the basics, delivering infrastructure improvements to cut delays and improve passenger experience.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, will confirm the move to Labour conference delegates in Liverpool.

She will say: “For years, we’ve heard stories of Avanti underperforming, with passengers left paying the price. Enough is enough. That is why we will bring Avanti into public ownership at the earliest opportunity, in March next year.

“This Labour government is committed to putting essential services back in public hands, connecting people to opportunity and delivering growth in every postcode – and this move reflects that commitment.

“We will also introduce a comprehensive improvement plan, focused on delivering for passengers, not shareholders.”

The government is on track to complete all public ownership transfers by the end of 2027 ahead of setting up Great British Railways.

WC’s transfer will be the eighth transfer under the public ownership programme, following that of Chiltern Railways’ services last week and Great Westen Railway’s services on 13 December.