Avanti West Coast is a train operating company in the United Kingdom owned by FirstGroup (70%) and Trenitalia (30%) that commenced operating the West Coast Partnership franchise on 8 December 2019. It replaced Virgin Trains that had been on the line since 1997.
History
In November 2016, the Department for Transport (DfT) announced that the InterCity West Coast franchise would be superseded by the West Coast Partnership (WCP), which would include operating High Speed 2 (HS2) services from 2026.[1]
The DfT required that bidders have experience in high speed trains and infrastructure, hence all partnered with an existing high speed operator.[2][3] In June 2017, the DfT announced three consortiums had been shortlisted to bid for the franchise:[4][5]
FirstGroup (70%) / Trenitalia (30%)
MTR Corporation (75%) / Guangshen Railway Company (25%)
Stagecoach (50%) / SNCF (30%) / Virgin Group (20%)
In December 2018 Renfe Operadora joined the MTR led bid.[6] In April 2019, the Stagecoach led bid was disqualified after it proposed significant changes to the commercial terms.[7]
In August 2019 the DfT awarded the franchise to the First Trenitalia consortium with Avanti West Coast to commence operations on 8 December 2019.[8][9] Some uncertainty remains as the Competition and Markets Authority launched a merger inquiry into the award of the franchise following a referral from the European Commission.[10][11]
Services
Avanti West Coast initially operated the same services as Virgin Trains on the West Coast Main Line. When High Speed 2 opens, it will also operate these services.
Over the course of the franchise several timetable changes are expected to be made
Extensions
The above table shows the regular off-peak service pattern; however, some services are extended beyond their usual destination. Extensions include:
a daily service will be introduced between London Euston and Walsall from December 2020, with an additional northbound service from 2022
an additional service will be introduced to Shrewsbury from December 2022
a direct service will be introduced between London Euston and Llandudno during the summer months from May 2021
Subject to approval by the Office of Rail and Road, an additional hourly service will be introduced between London Euston and Liverpool Lime Street with a stop at Liverpool South Parkway from December 2022
additional calls will be made at Motherwell from December 2020
additional direct journeys at Milton Keynes Central to and from London Euston from December 2022
extension of the daily service from London Euston to Wrexham General to Gobowen from December 2022
earlier first trains and later last trains from London Euston to Llandudno Junction on weekends from December 2022
earlier first trains and later last trains from London Euston to Chester on weekends by December 2022
Later last trains from London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly on weekdays by December 2020
Rolling stock
Avanti West Coast commenced operations with the existing Super Voyager and Pendolino fleets. Both the Super Voyagers and the Pendolinos will be refurbishe
History
In November 2016, the Department for Transport (DfT) announced that the InterCity West Coast franchise would be superseded by the West Coast Partnership (WCP), which would include operating High Speed 2 (HS2) services from 2026.[1]
The DfT required that bidders have experience in high speed trains and infrastructure, hence all partnered with an existing high speed operator.[2][3] In June 2017, the DfT announced three consortiums had been shortlisted to bid for the franchise:[4][5]
FirstGroup (70%) / Trenitalia (30%)
MTR Corporation (75%) / Guangshen Railway Company (25%)
Stagecoach (50%) / SNCF (30%) / Virgin Group (20%)
In December 2018 Renfe Operadora joined the MTR led bid.[6] In April 2019, the Stagecoach led bid was disqualified after it proposed significant changes to the commercial terms.[7]
In August 2019 the DfT awarded the franchise to the First Trenitalia consortium with Avanti West Coast to commence operations on 8 December 2019.[8][9] Some uncertainty remains as the Competition and Markets Authority launched a merger inquiry into the award of the franchise following a referral from the European Commission.[10][11]
Services
Avanti West Coast initially operated the same services as Virgin Trains on the West Coast Main Line. When High Speed 2 opens, it will also operate these services.
Over the course of the franchise several timetable changes are expected to be made
Extensions
The above table shows the regular off-peak service pattern; however, some services are extended beyond their usual destination. Extensions include:
a daily service will be introduced between London Euston and Walsall from December 2020, with an additional northbound service from 2022
an additional service will be introduced to Shrewsbury from December 2022
a direct service will be introduced between London Euston and Llandudno during the summer months from May 2021
Subject to approval by the Office of Rail and Road, an additional hourly service will be introduced between London Euston and Liverpool Lime Street with a stop at Liverpool South Parkway from December 2022
additional calls will be made at Motherwell from December 2020
additional direct journeys at Milton Keynes Central to and from London Euston from December 2022
extension of the daily service from London Euston to Wrexham General to Gobowen from December 2022
earlier first trains and later last trains from London Euston to Llandudno Junction on weekends from December 2022
earlier first trains and later last trains from London Euston to Chester on weekends by December 2022
Later last trains from London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly on weekdays by December 2020
Rolling stock
Avanti West Coast commenced operations with the existing Super Voyager and Pendolino fleets. Both the Super Voyagers and the Pendolinos will be refurbishe
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