Avanti West Coast will pass into public ownership in March, when its current contract ends, as part of Labour’s wider plan to bring passenger rail services under state control. The government says the move is intended to improve reliability and put passengers ahead of shareholders, after repeated complaints about cancellations, delays and overcrowding.

Avanti links London with cities including Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow. It cancelled 7.1% of its trains from April to June, among the highest rates in Britain, and has the lowest punctuality rating among the UK’s large rail companies; it also cut services including the 7am Manchester–London train. The company’s managing director said it had refurbished its Pendolino fleet, introduced Evero trains and increased services, while Great British Railways is expected to take full oversight in 2027.