Avanti West Coast nationalisation: public ownership from March 2027
Avanti West Coast will come under public ownership from March 2027, when its current contract is due to end on 7 March. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander says an improvement plan for infrastructure, punctuality and passenger experience will follow.
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Avanti West Coast services will come under public ownership from March 2027, when the operator's current contract is due to end on 7 March, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has announced. Until then, Avanti remains owned by FirstGroup (70%) and Trenitalia (30%). The Government said nationalisation will be supported by a plan to improve infrastructure, reduce delays and improve the passenger experience on the West Coast Main Line.
"Enough is enough"
Ms Alexander said passengers had been left paying the price for years of underperformance, and that the operator would be brought into public ownership at the earliest opportunity. Avanti's current contract is due to end on 7 March 2027. A comprehensive improvement plan, focused on passengers rather than shareholders, will accompany the transfer.
A managed transition
Andy Mellors, managing director at Avanti West Coast, pointed to the refurbished Pendolino fleet, the introduction of new Evero trains and a record number of services over the last six years. He said the operator would work closely with the Government over the coming months to ensure a seamless transition.
Which operators are already in public ownership?
Avanti will be the latest in a line of operators moving under Great British Railways:
- South Western Railway: May 2025
- c2c: July 2025
- Greater Anglia: October 2025
- West Midlands Trains: February 2026
- Govia Thameslink Railway: May 2026
- Chiltern Railways: September 2026
- Great Western Railway: due December 2026
- Avanti West Coast: due March 2027
Avanti is currently owned by FirstGroup (70%) and Trenitalia (30%). The transfer also coincides with a planned £50 million upgrade to London Euston over the next three years, including more seating, better waiting areas and refurbished toilets.
What it means for the workforce
Avanti joins a growing list of operators moving into public ownership ahead of Great British Railways. For staff, transfers of this kind normally protect existing terms and roles, while an improvement plan focused on reliability tends to bring investment in people as well as infrastructure.
Train driver recruitment remains central to running more reliable services. Candidates hoping to join operators on the West Coast Main Line will still need to pass RSSB-aligned train driver psychometric assessments as part of selection, whoever owns the franchise.
Railway Competence Group delivers train driver psychometric testing for private candidates and employers. If you are preparing for a driver application, you can book an assessment date through our booking page.
