The UK government will nationalise the Avanti West Coast rail franchise on 7 March 2027, the Department for Transport announced. The current contract, awarded to FirstGroup and Trenitalia in December 2019, has a core term ending on 18 October 2026, after which public ownership will take effect.
Ownership and Service Background
Avanti West Coast operates services on the West Coast Main Line, with a joint venture ownership split of 70% FirstGroup and 30% Trenitalia UK. The franchise replaced previous contracts disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic and long-standing service performance issues. Formal operation under a National Rail Contract began in October 2023 following interim short-term
contracts.
Throughout its private operation, the franchise experienced frequent cancellations, delays, and overcrowding, with underinvestment in infrastructure along the West Coast Main Line identified as the primary cause of service disruption. In March 2024, the Board of Transport for the North called for contract termination due to poor performance, though Avanti continued to operate.
Workforce Conditions and Union Calls
Thousands of staff involved in cleaning, security, gate line, and infrastructure maintenance are employed through private contractors. Security services for Avanti are outsourced to Amulet, owned by Churchill; station cleaning is provided by Carlisle Support Services, owned by Lord Ashcroft; and train cleaning is handled by
OCS, a private equity-owned outsourcing company acquiring Mitie.
The RMT union demands that all outsourced workers be brought under direct public employment following nationalisation. RMT General Secretary Eddie Dempsey stated that outsourcing firms generate over £400 million annually in profits by reducing pay and conditions, causing low morale and disputes among staff.
Official Statements on Transition and Service Improvement
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander confirmed the government’s intention to assume control of Avanti West Coast once the current contract expires. The government plans to implement a dedicated improvement strategy addressing basic service issues and infrastructure enhancements under public ownership.
Avanti Managing Director Andy Mellors expressed a commitment to
cooperate with the government to ensure a seamless handover while maintaining focus on customers, citing recent investments such as Pendolino fleet refurbishment and introduction of Evero trains. Mellors highlighted increased capacity and connectivity provided during private operation.
Union leaders called for a transformation in operations beyond ownership changes. RMT’s Eddie Dempsey highlighted the need for improved wages and working conditions for workers, while TSSA General Secretary Maryam Eslamdoust emphasized essential outcomes including reliable services, investment, safety, and secure jobs for rail staff within the Great British Railways framework.
Context of Rail Nationalisations and Future Plans
Avanti West Coast was the last legacy franchise awarded before the Covid-19
pandemic caused disruptions and contract revisions. Its nationalisation aligns with the Labour government’s initiative to unify rail infrastructure and operations under Great British Railways, moving the network back into public control.
Great Western Railway is set for nationalisation on 13 December 2026, preceding Avanti’s takeover. Following Avanti, CrossCountry’s renationalisation is scheduled for 17 October 2027, leaving East Midlands Railway as the only franchise without an announced end date for private management.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham criticized Avanti’s historical performance, stating that passengers endured cancellations, delays, and overcrowding repeatedly. Lord McLoughlin, Chair of the Board of Transport for the North, described
Avanti’s performance on the West Coast Main Line as poor for an extended period, necessitating government intervention.
