Avanti West Coast will transfer into public ownership on 7 March 2027.
Why it matters: The move affects a major intercity route linking London, Birmingham, the northwest and Glasgow. It also signals how far the government is willing to go in its wider rail nationalisation program.
- The Department for Transport announced the change on 28 September 2026.
- Avanti West Coast currently runs West Coast Main Line intercity services for First Trenitalia West Coast Rail.
- The operator will transfer when its current contract ends, and Sky News reported the government is using a termination right to end the arrangement early.
- The Office of Rail and Road said Avanti had 6.3% cancellations between April 2024 and March 2025.
The UK government said Avanti West Coast services will transfer into public ownership on 7 March 2027, when the current contract ends.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the move fits the government’s wider plan to put passenger rail services into public ownership ahead of Great British Railways. The government said services should be run in the interests of passengers, not private sector shareholders.
Avanti runs intercity trains on the West Coast Main Line, linking London, Birmingham, north-west England and Glasgow. The operator has faced persistent criticism over delays and cancellations, including an Office of Rail and Road figure of 6.3% cancellations between April 2024 and March 2025.
The current decision follows an earlier period of improvement. In 2023, the DfT said Avanti had reduced cancellations to as low as 1.1% over the prior year, before performance worsened again.
Sky News reported the government is using a termination right in the contract to end the arrangement early. The change is part of Labour’s broader program to bring rail operators back into public ownership.
By the numbers
- 7 March 2027 - date Avanti West Coast is due to transfer to public ownership
- 6.3% - Avanti cancellations between April 2024 and March 2025, per ORR
- 1.1% - cancellation rate cited by the DfT in September 2023 after improvements
Yes, but: The transfer is scheduled for when the current contract ends, so the change is not immediate.
What's next: The transfer is due on 7 March 2027.