Avanti West Coast to axe one in seven trains after DfT cost-saving request

The Department for Transport (DfT) asked the operator to cut costs, with about 38 daily weekday services set to be removed from July 20

One in seven train services are to be cut on Avanti West Coast’s busiest routes following a Government request to reduce expenditure, the operator has confirmed.

Approximately 38 daily weekday services will be stripped from timetables for a six-week period beginning July 20.

The company typically operates 248 daily services on the affected routes, which link London Euston with Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester via the West Coast Main Line.

Avanti West Coast said it put forward the proposal to remove certain lower-demand services in response to a directive from the Department for Transport (DfT) to rein in costs. The plan has since received approval from departmental officials.

Avanti West Coast – a joint venture between FirstGroup (70%) and Italian state operator Trenitalia (30%) – said the measure will cause minimal disruption to passengers and will have no adverse effect on revenue.

All train services operating under DfT contracts are in the process of being transferred to public ownership.

Even operators such as Avanti West Coast, which have yet to relinquish their franchises, have their finances heavily shaped by the DfT.

This stems from contracts introduced in March 2020 at the outset of the coronavirus pandemic.

An Avanti West Coast spokesperson said: “From July 20 to August 28, we will be operating an amended timetable between London and Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester on weekdays.

“To ensure minimal impact to those travelling between the affected dates, these changes will only affect routes on which we operate more than one train per hour, during typically less busy periods of the day – maximising alternative journey options.

“We’d like to encourage customers planning to make journeys during this time to plan ahead, and thank them for their understanding.”

Affected services are being withdrawn from online ticketing platforms before they become available to purchase.

The DfT was contacted for comment.

Avanti West Coast temporarily cut its timetables in August 2022 in a bid to reduce last-minute cancellations, following a sharp drop in the number of drivers voluntarily working rest days for additional pay, amid widespread industrial disputes across Britain’s rail network.

The operator has since restored its capacity beyond pre-pandemic levels.

Avanti stressed that the latest round of service reductions is not the result of a shortage of resources.

Figures from the Office of Rail and Road reveal that Government funding of rail industry operations stood at £11.9 billion in the year to the end of March 2025.

That represented a 7% decline from £12.7 billion during the preceding 12 months, yet remained 47% higher than the £8.1 billion recorded in 2019/20.

Last year’s £11.9 billion figure accounted for 46% of the industry’s total costs, with fare revenues funding the overwhelming majority of the remainder. In January 2024, Avanti West Coast issued an apology after taxpayer funding was referred to as “free money” during an internal management meeting.

Novara Media, which broke the story, published an image of a presentation slide bearing the headline: “Roll-up, roll-up get your free money here!” A further slide outlined how train operators receive Government bonuses even when services fail to run entirely to schedule, under the service quality regime.