Avanti West Coast to cut one in seven trains on its busiest intercity routes

"Avanti West Coast is to cut about one in seven trains on its busiest intercity routes this summer to reduce costs. The train operator said it was reducing its timetable between London Euston and Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester in response to a government request to lower spending. It normally runs 248 daily services on the affected routes, and will remove 38 weekday trains from the timetable during the summer months when demand is lower."

"The Department for Transport (DfT), led by the transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, has approved the revised timetable, which will take effect from 20 July. The affected trains will be removed from the schedules before becoming available for advance ticket purchases online. The threatened 7.00am Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston fast service, reinstated after an uproar in December, will remain running."

"Avanti said the demand-led timetabling would only affect routes where there were alternative trains to cause minimal disruption, and should not reduce revenue. The operator, which runs fast intercity trains between London and Glasgow on the west coast mainline, has by some distance the worst punctuality record in national rail, according to the latest statistics from the Office of Rail and Road. However, surveys suggest customer satisfaction has improved, and Avanti has greatly increased the number of services running since its Covid troubles."

"An Avanti West Coast spokesperson said: From 20 July to 28 August, 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 typ"

Avanti West Coast will reduce capacity on its busiest intercity routes during summer to lower spending. The operator will remove 38 weekday trains from the timetable between London Euston and Birmingham, Liverpool, and Manchester, reducing about one in seven services. The revised timetable will start on 20 July and run through the summer period when demand is lower. The affected trains will be removed from schedules before advance ticket sales online. A specific 7.00am Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston fast service will continue running. The Department for Transport approved the changes following a government request to reduce rail spending. Avanti says the demand-led approach will target routes with alternative services to minimize disruption and protect revenue.

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