In April, we welcomed more than 10 rail and transport stakeholders from the West Coast Rail 250 group on a special visit along the Settle and Carlisle route, showcasing how the rail industry is working together to keep customers moving during major engineering works on the West Coast Main Line. 

The visit followed positive feedback from stakeholders after Avanti West Coast successfully operated services via the historic Settle and Carlisle line during infrastructure upgrades earlier this year. The visit provided an opportunity to demonstrate the collaborative planning, investment and operational work taking place across the industry to maintain connectivity for customers while essential improvements are delivered on the railway.  

During the journey, we highlighted how the use of our bi-mode Evero fleet has helped keep passengers on trains and reduce the need for replacement bus services during periods of disruption. We also shared updates on the wider West Coast North Modernisation Programme and the long-term investment being made to improve reliability, performance and future capacity on one of the UK’s most important rail corridors.  

The visit also showcased the importance of cross-industry collaboration, with train operators, Network Rail and freight partners working together to coordinate services, customer communications and timetable planning to deliver the best possible experience for passengers.