The UK government has confirmed that the Avanti West Coast rail franchise will be nationalised starting 7 March 2027 when its current contract expires. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander announced the decision at the Labour conference on 28 September 2026. Avanti West Coast is operated by First Trenitalia, a joint venture between FirstGroup and Trenitalia.
Avanti West Coast Current Operations and Performance
Avanti West Coast has been under First Trenitalia’s management for the past seven years, running services on the West Coast Main Line between London, Manchester, Liverpool, and continuing through north-west England, Wales, Glasgow, and Edinburgh. The franchise has faced widespread criticism for poor punctuality, recording the
worst on-time performance among the UK’s large rail operators. Passengers have contended with frequent cancellations, delays, and overcrowding, leading to calls for change. Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, described the service as one that “has failed them time and time again.” The government cited these performance issues and long-standing infrastructure underinvestment as reasons for the move to public ownership.
Government Plans for Public Ownership of Trains
The government is also exploring options to own new trains directly instead of leasing from private rolling-stock companies (Roscos). In 2024, train operators spent more than £4 billion leasing and maintaining trains they did not own, representing roughly one-third of
day-to-day railway operating costs. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the leasing model “saved money upfront, but it also brought significant long-term costs.” She added that as Great British Railways is established, the state will examine whether direct ownership of new trains would better serve taxpayers and passengers. This reflects a shift from the privatisation practice whereby operators lease rolling stock from private firms, incurring financing, transaction costs, and investor returns that ultimately burden taxpayers and travelers.
Official and Union Reactions to Nationalisation
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander formally announced the renationalisation plan with the aim of prioritising passengers over shareholders and improving service reliability. Andy Burnham stated
the government was placing “passengers, not shareholders, first” and promised “more investment, fewer delays, and a renewed focus on getting the basics right.” Avanti’s managing director, Andy Mellors, expressed pride in recent achievements including refurbishing the Pendolino fleet and the introduction of Evero trains, noting these developments expanded service capacity and connectivity.
Unions welcomed the decision. RMT General Secretary Eddie Dempsey condemned Roscos for extracting funds offshore, calling for the end of the current rolling stock leasing system. Aslef General Secretary Dave Calfe described the nationalisation as a “big step forward,” highlighting billions lost in profits and dividends that could
instead be invested in the railway and help keep fares down.
Rail Franchise Nationalisation Timeline and Passenger Impact
Avanti West Coast will be the twelfth train operator to return to public ownership under the Labour government’s programme ahead of Great British Railways assuming full oversight in 2027. Other scheduled nationalisations include Great Western Railway in December 2026, East Midlands Railway between winter 2026 and mid-2027, and CrossCountry in autumn 2027. This strategy aims to reduce reliance on private leasing companies and improve service reliability across key UK main lines.
Passengers on West Coast Main Line routes linking London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow, and Edinburgh can expect operational
control to shift to public management from March 2027. The government intends that public ownership will increase investment, reduce delays, and focus on passenger experience, addressing the current history of cancellations and overcrowding that has affected many travelers.
