Northern transport leaders call for improvement to Avanti West Coast services

Transport for the North (TfN), the government’s statutory advisory body on transport in Northern England, has called for action to improve Avanti West Coast services.

During a meeting of the TfN Board on 14th December, the body agreed to write to the Transport Secretary over high levels of cancellations on West Coast Mainline services between the North-west and London, including those between Manchester, Macclesfield and the capital.

Members were advised by TfN’s Rail North Committee that the level of cancellations by Avanti West Coast are too high, and that service levels are inadequate. The Board will also advise the Transport Secretary that First Class carriages on the operator’s trains be declassified to increase capacity on trains during the busy run-up to Christmas and until improvements in service levels are seen next year.

While Avanti made significant improvements following a major scaling back of its timetable in 2022 in response to staff shortages, the rail operator saw its contract to run the West Coast Mainline franchise extended earlier this year. Since the contract renewal, however, service levels have once again fallen on the route which connects Scotland, North Wales and towns and cities in the North-west, including Macclesfield, Wilmslow and Crewe, with London Euston.

Lord McLoughlin Chair of Transport for the North, commented: 

“There was a strong recommendation by leaders from across the North that the current level of service by Avanti is inadequate, and therefore we have proposed a solution for the Christmas period to remove First-Class carriages to ensure that the travelling public are put first.”

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, who is Chair of TfN’s Rail North Committee, added:

“Next week is a huge week for the rail network in the North, as many families are relying on the network to see family and friends over the festive period. But the current levels of service we have witnessed in recent days is threatening to ruin the holiday period for many. Increased cancellations by Avanti leading to overcrowded trains just cannot be justified.

“The travelling public must always come first. They are entitled to a reliable service and therefore we are of the view that there should be no First-Class carriages over Christmas and until the New Year when Avanti can clearly demonstrate that their services have improved.”

Alongside the recommendations for improving Avanti services, the TfN Board also reconfirmed its calls for investment in the transport needs of Northern England. The body called for the government to commit to delivering in full the East-West high-speed rail link across Northern England, Northern Powerhouse Rail, particularly in light of HS2’s cancellation. As well as reducing journey times between cities across the region, the investment will also deliver major capacity improvements, allowing for more frequent services on local trains, intercity routes and increasing freight capacity.

TfN is set to publish in Spring 2024 evidence based proposals of where investment and change is needed across the region in its revised Strategic Transport Plan. Lord McLoughlin said:

“At Transport for the North our aim is to make transport easier, faster, and more accessible for all. Our evidence clearly demonstrates that we need transformational change, with investment in our roads, railways, and wider transport system, to improve connectivity for the North and make a difference for both residents and businesses.

“We must invest to deliver economic growth that is sustainable and inclusive for the longer term. And if we are going to achieve the ambitions in the Strategic Transport Plan, we need to champion change in the way we plan, develop, and then deliver transport investment.

“That means doing things differently. Transport for the North has a role to advise Government where there are opportunities to work more efficiently and effectively. By focusing on the outcomes, we need for people and places, working with metro mayors and local authorities and securing the investment needed, we can transform the North.”