The UK government confirmed that the Avanti West Coast rail franchise will transfer to public ownership on 7 March 2027, when its current contract expires, as part of a broader plan to nationalise key passenger rail services.
Avanti West Coast Service and Performance
Avanti West Coast, operated by the joint venture First Trenitalia—a partnership between FirstGroup and Trenitalia—for the last seven years, connects London with Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and parts of Wales via the West Coast Main Line. The operator has faced criticism for frequent delays, cancellations, and poor punctuality, ranking among the worst punctuality performers on the network.
Persistent service disruptions have been
exacerbated by long-term underinvestment in infrastructure along the West Coast Main Line, intensifying operational challenges.
Financial Impact of Rolling Stock Leasing
Franchised train operators, including Avanti West Coast, currently lease their trains from private rolling stock companies (Roscos) at an annual cost exceeding £4 billion in 2024. These costs include financing, transaction fees, and investment returns embedded in Rosco contracts, expenses ultimately borne by taxpayers and passengers. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander stated the leasing model “saved money upfront, but it also brought significant long-term costs.” She announced the government would explore public ownership of new trains ordered by Great British Railways on a case-by-case basis, while
existing rolling stock would generally remain leased.
Reactions from Officials and Unions
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander formally announced the nationalisation decision on 28 September 2026. Andy Burnham, Labour Mayor of Greater Manchester, welcomed the move, stating the government is “bringing Avanti West Coast into public ownership at the earliest opportunity in March next year” to benefit passengers who endured a service “that has failed them time and time again.” Andy Mellors, Avanti West Coast Managing Director, highlighted recent improvements, saying, “We’re proud of what we’ve achieved over the last six years – from refurbishing our Pendolino fleet and introducing our new Evero trains to running
more services than ever before.” He pledged to work with the government to ensure a seamless transition.
Union leaders also supported the nationalisation. RMT General Secretary Eddie Dempsey criticized Roscos for “sucking much-needed money out of the railways and into offshore bank accounts” and welcomed the move as a start to ending the rolling stock leasing model. Aslef General Secretary Dave Calfe described the nationalisation as “a big step forward for our railway,” noting that billions lost in profits and dividends could instead be invested in the railway and help keep fares down.
Broader Rail Nationalisation Strategy
Avanti West Coast will be the 12th
train operator to return to public ownership under the current Labour government’s nationalisation programme. Chiltern Railways was nationalised earlier in 2026; Great Western Railway is scheduled for renationalisation in December 2026; East Midlands Railway and CrossCountry services are planned for nationalisation between winter 2026 and autumn 2027, respectively. These transfers will be completed ahead of Great British Railways assuming full operational control in 2027.
The government’s strategy aims to replace private franchises and reduce the reliance on costly leasing from Roscos, addressing long-term financial burdens and service reliability issues. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander emphasized the goal to build a railway
that better serves taxpayers and passengers, stating, “If GBR owning trains would best serve taxpayers and passengers, then we should do it.”
