Stakeholder Updates - Delivery and growth in 2025 and beyond

Stakeholder Updates - Delivery and growth in 2025 and beyond https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/1w28mbadp6/ en-us 10 Apr 2025 02:20:39 IST 10 Apr 2025 02:20:39 IST https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/1w28mbadp6/rss.xml Newsweaver stakeholders@avantiwestcoast.co.uk (West Coast Trains Ltd.) support@newsweaver.ie (Newsweaver) 60 true Delivery and growth in 2025 and beyond https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/1w28mbadp6/ohz0quw4ty2?lang=en?rss=true Welcome to our latest stakeholder update. This edition is packed with details on how we’re performing, improving taxpayer value, and working for the communities we serve. Andy Mellors Managing Director, Avanti West Coast 03 Apr 2025 12:00:00 IST 552117f78f1cc4a0084449fb98d65ff0 Standard Articles Image Right Welcome to our latest stakeholder update. This edition is packed with details on how we’re performing, improving taxpayer value, and working for the communities we serve.    Andy Mellors Managing Director, Avanti West Coast <img align="center" src="https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/v3files/shard1/61605/b8/a63f10d50232101dbcbe4c.jpg" style="margin: 0px;" width="1000" height="334" hspace="0" vspace="0" alt="">   Welcome to our latest stakeholder update. This edition is packed with details on how we’re performing, improving taxpayer value, and working for the communities we serve.      As all train operators start a new Annual Business Plan each April, I thought now would be an opportune time to reflect on the past 12 months and update you on our plans for the next 12 months.   I’m delighted that our hard work across the business is resulting in significant improvements. In Period 13, All Cancellations were 3.0%, which is less than half the annual average of 6.4%. Cancellations for which the operator is responsible (TOC-on-self Cancellations) were down to 1.0%, with the annual average now at 3.0% - which is down by a third year-on-year. We have now seen three consecutive periods where these cancellations have reduced.   This is really being noticed by our customers. We’ve seen our Net Advocacy Score in the period increase to +31 which is the highest since the pandemic. We have also seen improvements in customer satisfaction scores across all measures. You can read more about this in our <a href="https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/1w28mbadp6/1cb3wukzhd0?lang=en" rel="noreferrer noopener">Performance section</a>.   The improvements in reliability, significant recruitment and training of drivers and train managers, timetable uplifts, new and refurbished trains and more capacity, alongside our wider commercial proposition and marketing activity have also resulted in a 9% year-on-year revenue growth which has further increased the amount of money we are returning to Government and taxpayers.   I was pleased so many stakeholders joined us for our ‘Ask Andy’ stakeholder webinar last month to hear about our performance and customer experience improvements in 2024 and our plans for delivery and growth in 2025 and beyond. For those of you who were unable to join us you can watch a recording <a href="https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/1w28mbadp6/wy7dfzasurp/external" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a> and download presentation slides <a href="https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/1w28mbadp6/1irido88ny6" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.   We recognise that punctuality remains a challenge. As almost two-thirds of delays on the west coast are due to infrastructure issues, severe weather and trespass, we have improved our partnership working with Network Rail.   We continue to collaborate to address the causes of these complex challenges, for example with our First 60-mile plan, and Manchester-Euston and Anglo-Scot task forces. Our partnership is already delivering benefits.   Customer feedback has been incredibly positive, but we know there is still more work to do. We recently jointly hosted a Westminster drop in for MPs and peers to share the progress on our collaborative work and to understand and address the issues their constituents raise.   Network Rail will be carrying out vital maintenance and improvement work this Easter bank holiday. Infrastructure renewals, a major bridge replacement and signalling upgrades will help provide safer and more reliable journeys. You can read more in our <a href="https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/1w28mbadp6/wnc9lx3a0mj?lang=en" rel="noreferrer noopener">Timetable section</a>.    We are pleased that our Train Managers have voted to accept our latest offer to resolve the dispute over Rest Day Working. We’ve worked together to find a resolution that is right for our Train Managers as well as the company and are now looking forward to continuing to grow our business. The RMT has now called off all its remaining strike action on Sundays, previously due to run until 25 May 2025.    Our plans for 2025 include further timetable uplifts and delivering value for taxpayers, as one of only two DfT operators who return a premium to government and the taxpayer. This means we are generating more money to the taxpayer – and we returned well over £100m in premium in the last financial year ending 31 March 2025.   As a result of our May and September timetable uplifts later this year we will be operating more services than were operated at the start of the franchise.  We are also seeking, subject to a timetable offer from Network Rail, to operate 10 trains per hour to/from London during the currency of the December 2025 timetable change, to include the full rollout of two trains per hour on the Liverpool route – driving connectivity and growth across the UK. You can read more about this in our <a href="https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/1w28mbadp6/wnc9lx3a0mj?lang=en" rel="noreferrer noopener">Timetable section</a>. We are able to deliver these timetable uplifts as we now have more frontline staff than ever before thanks to record levels of recruitment. You can read more about this in our <a href="https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/1w28mbadp6/vl1kl3sxa3g?lang=en" rel="noreferrer noopener">On Board section</a>.   This is all part of our mission to be the transport of choice connecting our customers and communities along the West Coast, as well as our commitment to collaboration with our stakeholders.   I hope you find this an interesting and informative read. We want to hear from you if you have any feedback or questions. Please get in touch with your Regional Growth Manager (details at the bottom of our newsletter) if you have any questions or feedback.   Andy Mellors Managing Director, Avanti West Coast https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/v3files/shard1/61605/5d/ce5db15eeab8720de3da24.png Read More How are we doing https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/1w28mbadp6/1cb3wukzhd0?lang=en?rss=true 03 Apr 2025 12:00:00 IST a16e904912df8d3ddfac3f142b831c35 Feature Article - Hero Image <img src="https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/v3files/shard1/61605/0c/5a09dce27544925d8adc21.png" style="margin: 0px;" width="1000" height="80" hspace="0" vspace="0" alt="">   We’re working hard to deliver consistently reliable services. We’ve gathered below some of the key industry metrics that show how we’re doing on cancellations, punctuality and delays, customer satisfaction, and generating growth so that you can judge this for yourself. We’ll update these in every newsletter, but if you want to see more up-to-date information, you can visit our website or that of the Office of Rail and Road, which collates key stats and compares these for different train operators.   <img src="https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/v3files/shard1/61605/66/7d56dc070f441ec3fdfb37.png" style="margin: 0px;" width="982" height="163" hspace="0" vspace="0" alt=""> <img src="https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/v3files/shard1/61605/c6/28ed877796c77a349bfb27.png" style="margin:0px;" width="1000" height="192" hspace="0" vspace="0" alt=""> <img src="https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/v3files/shard1/61605/24/f01c9696e92ad137af8526.png" style="margin: 0px;" width="978" height="100" hspace="0" vspace="0" alt=""> Cancellations we were responsible for (TOC On Self) fell from 4.0% in P11 to 1.0% in P13, the third consecutive period where cancellations have fallen. Given the longer-term challenges on punctuality, it was positive to see arrivals within 15 minutes exceed 90% for the second consecutive month, the highest levels since March 2022.   <img src="https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/v3files/shard1/61605/8e/00de610d8293a06f70a488.png" style="margin:0px;" width="1000" height="393" hspace="0" vspace="0" alt=""> <img src="https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/v3files/shard1/61605/96/b1efff27f74cbf79093920.png" style="margin: 0px;" width="979" height="46" hspace="0" vspace="0" alt=""> As this data shows, this period saw reductions in overall cancellations and delays, with both having improved significantly from this time last year.   <img src="https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/v3files/shard1/61605/e8/20a5e85cd4e902378155b4.png" style="margin: 0px;" width="1000" height="437" hspace="0" vspace="0" alt="">   <img src="https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/v3files/shard1/61605/e1/b7a37ec4578c14a082fccb.png" style="margin: 0px;" width="979" height="47" hspace="0" vspace="0" alt=""> While there is still more to do, we are now seeing signs that the focused work undertaken with Network Rail and other industry partners to jointly address the key drivers of poor performance is starting to improve our service for customers. We continue to work with partners to drive down those delays out of our direct control.   <img src="https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/v3files/shard1/61605/b8/2e0078a03f25a8436d0d6d.png" style="margin:0px;" width="1000" height="393" hspace="0" vspace="0" alt=""> <img src="https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/v3files/shard1/61605/1c/8db8960a9c1376384bc4c2.png" style="margin: 0px;" width="973" height="177" hspace="0" vspace="0" alt=""> <img src="https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/v3files/shard1/61605/98/1f86eba8fe53127730d646.png" style="margin:0px;" width="1000" height="201" hspace="0" vspace="0" alt=""> <img src="https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/v3files/shard1/61605/3e/c68d12128d05f804af3c27.png" style="margin: 0px;" width="978" height="44" hspace="0" vspace="0" alt=""> We are working hard to continue to attract back passengers and deliver growth. The investment we are making in passenger experience is having a significant impact on positive sentiment. This has helped us improve customer satisfaction significantly, with our net advocacy score (NAS) at levels not seen since before the pandemic. In turn, this is leading to our passenger numbers continuing to grow as more customers trust us to deliver a reliable journey. We will continue to invest in improvements to our services and deliver further growth. <img src="https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/v3files/shard1/61605/8c/3b89aca431fdb32d86baa5.png" style="margin:0px;" width="1000" height="447" hspace="0" vspace="0" alt=""> https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/v3files/shard1/61605/12/97a45a35e218135e3ed2fc.png Read More Catch up on our 'Ask Andy' webinar https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/1w28mbadp6/t6nuo2g2cut?lang=en?rss=true On Thursday 20 March, we hosted an ‘Ask Andy’ stakeholder webinar to reflect on the past 12 months and update stakeholders on our plans for the next 12 months, as we strive to deliver better customer outcomes and economic growth. We were pleased over 100 stakeholders from across our route signed up for what was a very interactive session, with lots of time for questions and to hear stakeholder views, to help inform our decision making. There were questions across a wide range of topics including reform and nationalisation, performance on our routes including North Wales and Manchester, tourism and events, onboard catering, and working with our supply chain. For those of you who were unable to join us you can watch a recording here [ https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/1w28mbadp6/6x7pbaq8dfs/external ] and download presentation slides here [ https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/1w28mbadp6/1irido88ny6 ]. For those who did attend (or who have caught up since) we would be grateful if you could share your views about the webinar here [ https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/1w28mbadp6/14om66jivdb/external ]. 03 Apr 2025 12:00:00 IST 43e48214f2527cf80af4a6038a3f9c63 ARTICLE_1_COLUMN-clone-34037381-20250130-153645 On Thursday 20 March, we hosted an ‘Ask Andy’ stakeholder webinar to reflect on the past 12 months and update stakeholders on our plans for the next 12 months, as we strive to deliver better customer outcomes and economic growth. We were pleased over 100 stakeholders from across our route signed up for what was a very interactive session, with lots of time for questions and to hear stakeholder views, to help inform our decision making.   There were questions across a wide range of topics including reform and nationalisation, performance on our routes including North Wales and Manchester, tourism and events, onboard catering, and working with our supply chain.   For those of you who were unable to join us you can watch a recording <a href="https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/1w28mbadp6/6x7pbaq8dfs/external" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a> and download presentation slides <a href="https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/1w28mbadp6/1irido88ny6" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.   For those who did attend (or who have caught up since) we would be grateful if you could share your views about the webinar <a href="https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/1w28mbadp6/14om66jivdb/external" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>. https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/v3files/shard1/61605/c6/fb38fc5db104e9eb9ebcdd.jpg Hosting our latest MP drop in with Network Rail https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/1w28mbadp6/1gi06m16a0c?lang=en?rss=true We regularly host drop-in sessions with Members of Parliament and Peers, to hear feedback, answer any questions, and discuss their priorities to help shape our decision-making. Parliamentarians had the opportunity to meet with Andy Mellors, Gary Walsh (Route Director, West Coast South, Network Rail) and Chris Coleman (Industry Programme Director, North, Network Rail) on Wednesday 19 March. Jointly hosting drop-ins is part of our commitment to working collaboratively to improve performance across the network. We are striving to set new standards for customer experience and operational excellence, and our partnership is already delivering benefits. While we have made progress in reducing volatility and improving resilience, we are working to continue to reduce delay minutes. Together, we are actively implementing a range of measures in our joint performance strategy [ https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/1w28mbadp6/1ezxxubw4z6/external ] to address this, which includes improving incident management, service recovery during disruptions, and the frequency and severity of infrastructure failures. As part of this, several major programmes are underway. We will continue to keep you updated. 03 Apr 2025 12:00:00 IST 7957c1753e26e3146b49949fe134ac52 ARTICLE_1_COLUMN-clone-34037381-20241115-100238 We regularly host drop-in sessions with Members of Parliament and Peers, to hear feedback, answer any questions, and discuss their priorities to help shape our decision-making. Parliamentarians had the opportunity to meet with Andy Mellors, Gary Walsh (Route Director, West Coast South, Network Rail) and Chris Coleman (Industry Programme Director, North, Network Rail) on Wednesday 19 March.    Jointly hosting drop-ins is part of our commitment to working collaboratively to improve performance across the network. We are striving to set new standards for customer experience and operational excellence, and our partnership is already delivering benefits.   While we have made progress in reducing volatility and improving resilience, we are working to continue to reduce delay minutes. Together, we are actively implementing a range of measures in our <a href="https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/1w28mbadp6/1ezxxubw4z6/external">joint performance strategy </a>to address this, which includes improving incident management, service recovery during disruptions, and the frequency and severity of infrastructure failures. As part of this, several major programmes are underway. We will continue to keep you updated. https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/v3files/shard1/61605/e9/52e5a876e04dc3a5f5c69d.jpeg Community https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/1w28mbadp6/v87h15eg16d?lang=en?rss=true We have been actively supporting the people, places and communities we serve, including commemorating Railway 200, raising money through the Big Sleepout, and supporting projects through our Customers & Communities Improvement Fund. 30 Jan 2025 12:00:00 GMT a92d52724447a90759119ef4dd0b5d45 ARTICLE_2_COLUMN-clone-34037361-20240927-111618 We have been actively supporting the people, places and communities we serve, including commemorating Railway 200, raising money through the Big Sleepout, and supporting projects through our Customers & Communities Improvement Fund.   <img src="https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/v3files/shard1/61605/af/8301eec433a83ed36ec272.jpg" style="margin: 0px;" width="1000" height="167" hspace="0" vspace="0" alt="">   We have been actively supporting the people, places and communities we serve, including commemorating Railway 200, raising money through the Big Sleepout, and supporting projects through our Customers & Communities Improvement Fund.      Celebrating 200 years of Britain’s modern railway and inspiring future generations alongside the industry through Railway 200   In February we named one of our Pendolino trains at an event in Derby to mark celebrations at Alstom’s ‘The Greatest Gathering’ launch event. The Pendolino train, which has been temporarily renumbered 390200, also sports the Railway 200 logo on its cab ends. Alstom’s Derby site will be home to the UK’s largest gathering of historic rolling stock in August 2025. With another Pendolino set to feature, the three-day festival aims to raise thousands for Railway 200 charities and the rail heritage sector.   We also announced plans to attempt a non-stop run between London and Glasgow later this year, aiming to beat the record of three hours, 52 minutes and 40 seconds set in 1984. The record attempt will promote the seamless connectivity rail provides between cities and across borders. <img align="center" src="https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/v3files/shard1/61605/8b/00a66344cf039abfc7d69c.jpg" width="500" height="333" hspace="0" vspace="0" alt=""> Eight Avanti West Coast colleagues slept overnight at Birmingham New Street as part of the Railway Children’s yearly Big Sleepout challenge The team, which included frontline and office-based colleagues, raised over £2,500 through sponsorship. Taking on the challenge were Jo Bird, Communications Director; Joanna Buckley, Community Manager; Cleo Lindo, Internal Communications Executive; Amy Dawson, Reporting Analyst; Natalie Richbell-Beer, Safeguarding Manager; Nicola Hague, Customer Experience Strategy Manager; Marcia Graver, an on-board chef; and Louise McGregor, Management System Administrator. Money raised from the event goes towards the charity’s work to combat child homelessness in the UK, India and Tanzania. <img align="center" src="https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/v3files/shard1/61605/77/e2b4559349aa82c1cf13a0.jpg" width="501" height="282" hspace="0" vspace="0" alt=""> Find out more about some of the projects we have funded through our Customers & Communities Improvement Fund As part of our annual business plan, we are committed to provide a Customer & Communities Improvement Fund for projects that are located within 10 miles of one of our stations or a station that we serve, that address regeneration challenges and/or social needs. Details of the community projects we will be funding from April 2025 will be shared at a later date.   Last year we funded 8 amazing projects, and you can find out about some of them below:   <ul> <li>Liverpool and Sefton Mencap received funding to deliver a series of travel confidence training sessions to adult members in Merseyside. Travelling by train can be confusing and concerning for customers, so these workshops help members become more confident by discussing their concerns and highlighting the positives of rail travel.</li> </ul> <a title="https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/1w28mbadp6/4xutsteugqy/external" href="https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/1w28mbadp6/4xutsteugqy/external" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jxoWq7D5FQY" width="425" height="240" frameborder="0" align="center"></iframe></a>   <ul> <li>Outdoor Mobility funds Tramper mobile vehicles for various sites of interest. These vehicles allow people to travel around the countryside and to attractions. The Tramper vehicles are designed to navigate easily across muddy paths and uphill terrain, whether in an ancient castle or a woodland area. They are user-friendly, and each person receives a brief training session before hiring them at the venue. One of the locations where these vehicles are available is Sizergh Castle, which is just 20 minutes away from Oxenholme.</li> </ul> <iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/px2ab5CKjc0" width="425" height="240" frameborder="0" align="center"></iframe>   <ul> <li>The aim of Cheshire Buddies is to bring together young people with a range of disabilities to give them experiences and meet other young people with disabilities, whilst supporting their families and siblings too. Some of the experiences which our funding supported included craft events in unused space at Crewe Station to taking young people on life-affirming day trips to Blackpool, Liverpool, Manchester and Shrewsbury.</li> </ul> <a title="https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/1w28mbadp6/1bz5410b1l6/external" href="https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/1w28mbadp6/1bz5410b1l6/external" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4guN4pxW808" width="425" height="240" frameborder="0" align="center"></iframe></a> https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/v3files/shard1/61605/9a/b966f0a456fbbfd150da94.jpg Stations https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/1w28mbadp6/e5k0urndk5c?lang=en?rss=true As part of our ‘Ask Andy’ webinar we highlighted the progress made and future plans on station development. We are working with Network Rail, councils and stakeholders to develop our stations, ensuring they meet modern customer needs and can properly support the communities they serve. 03 Apr 2025 12:00:00 IST 01d05e49dfec83beaa49068f4aeeb248 ARTICLE_2_COLUMN-clone-34037361-20240927-111618 As part of our ‘Ask Andy’ webinar we highlighted the progress made and future plans on station development. We are working with Network Rail, councils and stakeholders to develop our stations, ensuring they meet modern customer needs and can properly support the communities they serve. <img src="https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/v3files/shard1/61605/af/8301eec433a83ed36ec272.jpg" style="margin: 0px;" width="1000" height="167" hspace="0" vspace="0" alt="">   As part of our ‘Ask Andy’ webinar we highlighted the progress made and future plans on station development. We are working with Network Rail, councils and stakeholders to develop our stations, ensuring they meet modern customer needs and can properly support the communities they serve.  <ul> <li style="font-size: 14px;">In Lancaster, we’ve worked with the Council to invest in a Changing Places facility, which helps make the railway more accessible.</li> <li style="font-size: 14px;">At Coventry, we’ve worked with Rail Heritage Trust and Network Rail to install new skylights, improve the signage and rejuvenate heritage tiling. All welcome additions to the £83m new station already delivered in partnership with the local authority.</li> <li style="font-size: 14px;">At Glasgow, we’ve worked with Network Rail to move our ticket office and First Class Lounge into the centre of the concourse – a welcome improvement for our customers but also one that has enabled Network Rail to open up new retail facilities in the station.</li> </ul> <img align="center" src="https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/v3files/shard1/61605/dd/e8136db1ff4fb69ca1dce3.jpg" width="500" height="293" hspace="0" vspace="0" alt="">   We continue to work with partners to invest in stations, to improve customer facilities and creating new retail opportunities. For example: <ul> <li style="font-size: 14px;">At Penrith, we're rejuvenating the old station master's house at the front of the station ahead of bringing this into commercial use</li> <li style="font-size: 14px;">At Carlisle, we're developing a new pub, which we hope will be as popular and well used as the pub we have at Lancaster.</li> <li style="font-size: 14px;">And at Lancaster we're aiming to install a restaurant in the disused platform on the station's Eastern side.</li> </ul> We're also working closely with Councils, Network Rail, LCR Property and developers to enhance the land around our stations, doing everything we can to support wider government ambitions around housing and placemaking, and in preparation for the future high-speed railway. For example: <ul> <li style="font-size: 14px;">At Carlisle, we are nearing completion of a long-term investment plan that seeks to drive significant public and private investment into the centre of the city, making it a more attractive place to live, work and visit.</li> <li style="font-size: 14px;">Similar masterplanning work has been undertaken for Birmingham International, Stafford and Wigan, with plans for Preston due to get underway shortly.</li> <li style="font-size: 14px;">Long-term, collaborative approach to develop station and surrounding land.</li> </ul> <img align="center" src="https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/v3files/shard1/61605/17/f76523d9a725c406922d1e.jpg" width="500" height="333" hspace="0" vspace="0" alt="">   https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/v3files/shard1/61605/0a/f898dd96054e6388c34db8.jpg Timetable https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/1w28mbadp6/wnc9lx3a0mj?lang=en?rss=true Over the course of the next financial year, we will operate more services than at the start of the franchise. We are seeking to eventually operate 10 trains per hour during the currency of the December 2025 timetable, including the full rollout of two trains per hour on the Liverpool route – driving connectivity and growth across the UK. 03 Apr 2025 12:00:00 IST 99625637267c3a352ed367af7f8cf62b ARTICLE_2_COLUMN-clone-34037361-20240927-111607 Over the course of the next financial year, we will operate more services than at the start of the franchise. We are seeking to eventually operate 10 trains per hour during the currency of the December 2025 timetable, including the full rollout of two trains per hour on the Liverpool route – driving connectivity and growth across the UK. <img src="https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/v3files/shard1/61605/11/0c234d82695e115e3b5041.jpg" style="margin: 0px;" width="1000" height="167" hspace="0" vspace="0" alt="">   Over the course of the next financial year, we will operate more services than at the start of the franchise. We are seeking to eventually operate 10 trains per hour during the currency of the December 2025 timetable, including the full rollout of two trains per hour on the Liverpool route – driving connectivity and growth across the UK.   Timetable uplifts   We are taking a phased approach to our May 2025 timetable, which launches from 18 May. At that point, we will introduce ten additional weekday services, with seven additional services on Saturdays and six additional services on Sundays. This staged rollout allows us to introduce these additional services in a sustainable manner, especially as more drivers become fully qualified over the summer. A second phase, starting on 15 September, will add fourteen more weekday services, nine more Saturday services and six more Sunday services.    <img align="center" src="https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/v3files/shard1/61605/e8/cb9efbee9ca8479b82f0de.jpg" style="margin: 0px;" width="977" height="511" hspace="0" vspace="0" alt="">   We’ve worked with our partners in Liverpool to deliver our shared ambition of a 2 trains per hour on the route, which will increase journey opportunities, improve connectivity, and boost capacity – contributing to the economic growth of Liverpool and the City Region. Over half of the additional services planned for our Liverpool route will be operating from 15 September. Subject to final confirmation, our goal is to run a full 2tph timetable on the Liverpool route by the end of the December 2025 timetable.   <img align="center" src="https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/v3files/shard1/61605/a5/19a9cc8604488e45481b6e.jpg" style="margin: 0px;" width="955" height="509" hspace="0" vspace="0" alt="">   Easter engineering work <p style="box-sizing: border-box; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; font-size: 16px; margin: 1em 0px; color: #131e29; font-family: Averta, sans-serif; white-space: normal; outline-color: transparent; line-height: 1.2;">We strongly recommend you travel either side of Saturday 19 to Monday 21 April this Easter. No trains will run to and from London Euston station on these three days while Network Rail carry out improvement work, and other parts of the West Coast Main Line are also affected. If you do need to travel during the Easter weekend, please plan ahead and make a reservation, as your journey will take much longer. Trains on Maundy Thursday (17 April) and Good Friday (18 April) are expected to be busy. <p style="box-sizing: border-box; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; font-size: 16px; margin: 1em 0px; color: #131e29; font-family: Averta, sans-serif; white-space: normal; outline-color: transparent; line-height: 1;"><img src="https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/v3files/shard1/61605/fe/7dba948cee548f68833c03.jpg" style="margin: 0px;" width="1000" height="547" hspace="0" vspace="0" alt=""> https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/v3files/shard1/61605/e6/5bc9336bcba136fa791fc3.jpg On Board https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/1w28mbadp6/vl1kl3sxa3g?lang=en?rss=true We have reintroduced our integrated ticket so visitors to the Lake District can travel seamlessly across rail and bus, and to further help ensure service reliability, we have undertaken record levels of recruitment and training. 03 Apr 2025 12:00:00 IST 61945f0169fd91377beda0ca787f942b ARTICLE_2_COLUMN-clone-34037361-20240927-111607 We have reintroduced our integrated ticket so visitors to the Lake District can travel seamlessly across rail and bus, and to further help ensure service reliability, we have undertaken record levels of recruitment and training.  <img src="https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/v3files/shard1/61605/11/0c234d82695e115e3b5041.jpg" style="margin: 0px;" width="1000" height="167" hspace="0" vspace="0" alt="">   We have reintroduced our integrated ticket so visitors to the Lake District can travel seamlessly across rail and bus, and to further help ensure service reliability, we have undertaken record levels of recruitment and training.   Return of Keswick's virtual railway station to support sustainable journeys in the Lakes   Last week we announced the return of our integrated ticket covering entire journeys to the Lake District across train and bus, in partnership with Stagecoach, following a successful trial as part of Cumbria Tourism’s award-winning ‘Go Car Free’ campaign.    The return of the fully integrated ticket follows a successful trial last year as part of the award-winning ‘Go Car Free’ campaign by Local Visitor Economy Partnership, Cumbria Tourism, supported by Avanti West Coast and Stagecoach. The improved connectivity and seamless journey experience across public transport makes it even easier to visit the Lake District without a car, enabling sustainable trips.   The ticket can be used on Avanti West Coast’s services to Penrith (gateway to the North Lakes) and Stagecoach’s connecting X4 and X5 bus service to Keswick – without the need for multiple transactions.   Over the five-month trial, 750 journeys were made to and from Keswick using the joint ticket.   Markus Campbell-Savours, MP for Penrith and Solway, attended the launch of the new ticket and said: “I fully support this initiative that won’t only make it easier for those without cars to travel to the heart of the Lake District but will also reduce congestion on the roads in towns and villages across Cumbria. As a local politician, I’m acutely aware of the congestion we experience in the summer holidays and anything that helps people travel to Cumbria in a joined up and sustainable way, is a good thing.”   <img align="center" src="https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/v3files/shard1/61605/ae/6069923dd8e7c2a3367587.jpg" width="500" height="334" hspace="0" vspace="0" alt="">   Record levels of recruitment and training   In addition to having 18% more drivers and 10% more train managers than at the start of the franchise, we are also undertaking signicifant levels of training of existing drivers on our new Evero trains as well as on additional routes. We also opened a new driver depot at Crewe in December 2024 which has helped to improve the resilience of our North Wales operation.   We are particularly pleased with the response to our marketing campaign to attract more women to the driver grade, with women making up a third of new trainee recruits, an increase from one in five.   The campaign was launched on the back of the unveiling of a mural at London Euston station of Karen Harrison, one of the UK's first female train drivers. We launched the rail industry’s first ever recruitment chatbot, which was designed to be a light-hearted way of engaging with potential applicants about what it takes to be a train driver. We also used HR insights which highlights that on average women will take a couple of weeks to apply for a new job. As a result, job applications were opened a month after the Karen Harrison campaign launched, and they were kept open for a week rather than the standard 24 to 48 hours – which was another industry first.   We’re on track to hit our target of 50% female trainee driver recruits by 2030 and we are really proud that this campaign played a huge part.   <img align="center" src="https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/v3files/shard1/61605/12/a6389bb9bc3cb2aa9fe7be.jpg" width="500" height="333" hspace="0" vspace="0" alt="">   https://westcoastpartnership.newsweaver.com/v3files/shard1/61605/ba/fc1bcdade1cda6edf0cb0e.jpg