Avanti West Coast is one of the UK’s leading train operators, and has been serving passengers for several years. We took over the West Coast Main Line franchise in December 2019, and have been running Avanti trains ever since.
Our network connects people and places across the UK, with routes covering major destinations such as London, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester and Glasgow.
The names behind Avanti West Coast
While the Avanti West Coast name may be relatively new, our roots stretch back much further. Avanti West Coast is a partnership between two transport companies:
- FirstGroup is a Scottish company that operates over 8,000 buses in the UK. Holding a 70% stake in Avanti West Coast, FirstGroup also owns Hull Trains and Great Western Railways. It also holds a 70% stake in South Western Railway; however, this partnership is set to end in May 2025, when the service will be brought into public ownership as part of Labour’s nationalisation plans.
- Trenitalia is Italy’s primary train operator and was founded in 2000. It owns the remaining 30% of Avanti West Coast and provides international services connecting Italy to destinations such as France, Germany, and Austria.
The evolution of Avanti West Coast
Avanti West Coast has a rich history, shaped by its connections to renowned European operators and partnerships with key industry players. However, to fully understand our journey, we need to go back where it all began.
The Virgin Trains era (1997 – 2019)
Virgin Trains took over the InterCity West Coast franchise in 1997.
One of their first most significant projects was the introduction of the Pendolino fleet in 2002, replacing an aging set of trains. The state-of-the-art tilting trains improved journey times and offered passengers a smoother, more comfortable ride.
By 2003, Virgin Trains' Pendolinos were in full operation, quickly becoming an important name in UK rail travel.
In 2012, the government launched a new bidding process for the West Coast franchise. FirstGroup, Avanti’s current partner company, emerged as a strong competitor. However, after some setbacks in the bidding process, Virgin Trains retained the franchise.
This raised the question - who would eventually take over?
The birth of Avanti West Coast (2019 – present)
In 2019, Avanti West Coast took over from Virgin Trains, marking a new chapter in UK rail travel.
However, this transition came during a particularly challenging period. In 2016, The Department for Transport (DfT) replaced the InterCity West Coast into the West Coast Partnership. This included services on the West Coast Main Line and future routes linked to the HS2 project.
By the time Avanti was awarded the contract in late 2019, the UK rail sector was facing significant issues such as rising costs, frequent service disruptions and declining public satisfaction.
Soon after Avanti took over, the COVID-19 pandemic struck, dramatically impacting the rail industry. Passenger numbers plummeted due to nationwide lockdowns and operational difficulties worsened as driver training was halted and reliance on rest-day working became unsustainable. Several operators, such as Northern and Transport for Wales, lost their franchises during this period.
In contrast, Avanti West Coast worked closely with the DfT to implement a recovery plan during and after the pandemic. This included:
- Enhanced driver training
- Reduce reliance on rest-day working
- Extending ticket booking options for passengers
These efforts were part of a broader strategy to stabilise and improve services during a period of unprecedented disruption. By 2023, service cancellations had dropped significantly, and over 90% of Avanti’s trains arrived within 15 minutes of their scheduled time - a dramatic improvement from the previous six months.
A long-term vision for the West Coast Main Line
The DfT awarded Avanti West Coast a long-term contract in September 2023. Initially granted for three years, the contract includes an option to extend for up to nine years, allowing us to focus on long-term plans for improvements in service, infrastructure, and passenger service.
Our goal is to build a more comfortable and reliable railway service for all our customers.
Exploring Avanti’s fleet
Avanti West Coast runs two types of trains: the Italian-born Pendolino and the Hitachi-made Evero.
Class 390 Pendolino
The Class 390 Pendolino has been a favourite on the West Coast Main Line since 2002. First introduced by Virgin Trains, passengers get the most out of their journey from these fast, comfortable, and well-equipped trains.
With a top speed of 125 mph (200 km/h), these tilting trains are among the fastest in the UK.
Class 805 and 807 Evero
In June 2024, our Class 805 bi-mode Everos entered service, operating on both diesel and electric power. Later, in October 2024, the electric-only Class 807 Evero was introduced, reducing carbon emissions.
The Everos are the future of the West Coast Main Line. When you travel on one of these trains, you’ll experience ergonomic seating and extra legroom, as well as extra luggage space.
You'll also find new features onboard, like wireless charging points, personal lights you can dim for added comfort, and live journey updates. Evero’s toilets are also highly accessible with carer-friendly entry.
Class 221 Super Voyager
Super Voyagers, known for their tilting technology, were gradually phased out from 2022 to 2024 as part of our commitment to a greener railway.
How Avanti has served the British railways
Beyond transportation, Avanti West Coast supports local communities through various initiatives.
Customer & Communities Improvement Fund (CCIF)
We offer grants of up to £10,000 to support projects within 10 miles of Avanti train stations.
Our CCIF scheme has helped make the countryside accessible with an Outdoor Mobility scheme, which provides mobility vehicles to allow people to explore the countryside.
We've also partnered with Liverpool and Sefton Mencap to deliver confidence training to service users in Merseyside. Members can utilise this service to discuss concerns or positives they have about rail travel.
Rail to Refuge program
We’re also proud to be part of the Rail to Refuge scheme, a nationwide partnership between Women’s Aid and train operators.
Survivors of domestic abuse can get free travel on an Avanti West Coast train, helping them to reach a safe space. Since its launch the scheme has provided free rail tickets to 836 people, including 210 children.
There is a Women’s Aid Live Chat service for anyone who would like advice.
Celebrating local culture
At Crewe station we’ve teamed up with the North Staffordshire Community Rail Partnership and poet Gareth Williams to create a stunning 12-metre-long mural for the station celebrating Crewe's railway heritage. The mural features some of the town’s most famous landmarks, as well as Gareth’s excellent poem "Tracks are our Veins."
Feel Good Futures
Our Feel Good Field Trips programme, which gave primary school children the chance to explore new places by train, has now come to an end. In its place, we’ve introduced Feel Good Futures - a new initiative for secondary school students aged 14–18, with a focus on schools in disadvantaged areas.
The programme is open to schools within three miles of any Avanti West Coast-managed or served station. Each group takes part in a bespoke workshop designed to give students a fresh look at the rail industry.
The sessions cover topics like:
- The 200-year history of rail travel
- How to stay safe around trains and stations
- The role of STEM subjects in modern rail
- The wide range of careers available across the network
Alongside the workshops, students will enjoy trips on our rail services for depot visits, station tours, and trips to transport museums and heritage railways. Our goal is to inspire young people, open up new career possibilities, and build stronger links between local communities and the railway.
Working with small suppliers for big impact
We’re proud to partner with purpose-driven small businesses through our sustainable supply chain strategy.
A standout is Change Please, a coffee supplier tackling homelessness through barista training and wraparound support. We also source cultured butter and yoghurt from The Estate Dairy. They are a family-run producer based near Crewe that works with local farmers and keeps every product 100% traceable.
These partnerships support social good, reduce environmental impact, and boost local economies across our network.
Making stations easier to navigate
We’ve rolled out the GoodMaps app across several Avanti stations to support customers with visual impairments and other accessibility needs. The app offers real-time, turn-by-turn audio and visual directions to key locations like platforms, assistance points, and toilets.
Between 2023 and 2024, over 300 customers benefited from this technology. We’re committed to continuing to expand its availability in our stations to improve the journey for every passenger.
Travel with Avanti
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