Avanti West Coast to Return to Public Ownership in March 2027

The operator of one of Britain’s busiest train lines will return to public ownership in March 2027.

The government said it plans to take control of Avanti West Coast services at the end of the operator’s contract.

The move is part of the government’s broader effort to bring passenger rail services into public ownership ahead of the creation of Great British Railways. It also comes after years of disruption on the West Coast Main Line, where delays and cancellations have frustrated passengers.

The government said infrastructure problems caused by long-term underinvestment remain the largest source of disruption on the route.

The transfer will be accompanied by an improvement program that includes an additional £10 million for power and signaling maintenance through 2027. That funding is in addition to £840 million already committed to addressing infrastructure problems, which account for about a third of delays on the West Coast Main Line.

Timetable changes intended to improve reliability and journey times, particularly on services to and from Manchester, are scheduled to begin in December 2026.

The government also plans to invest £50 million at Euston station over three years. An initial £11 million will provide additional seating, improved waiting areas and refurbished toilets. Another £10 million is planned for improvements at other West Coast Main Line stations by the end of 2027.

Plans also call for deploying low-Earth-orbit satellite technology to improve Wi-Fi and 5G connectivity aboard trains.

The government said bringing train operations into public ownership will allow closer coordination between infrastructure and train services. It plans to complete all public ownership transfers by the end of 2027 before establishing Great British Railways.