The data in this update covers the period from 1 April 2025 to 21 June 2025.

 

I’m pleased to report that since our successful timetable step up in May, reliability has remained strong and from September, we will be operating more services than ever before on the West Coast Main Line. Over the past year, we've seen a halving in the level of cancellations that Avanti is responsible for (TOC on Self cancellations) – and these have remained consistently low over the first three periods of the year (1 April - 21 June), at an average of 1.1%. Period 01 saw cancellations at 0.9% (1 April - 26 April), Period 02 at 1.5% (27 April - 24 May) and Period 3 at 1.1% (25 May - 21 June).

 

Whilst 88% of our trains have arrived within 15 minutes of their scheduled time, we know there is more to do to improve punctuality. As two-thirds of delays are due to infrastructure failures, extreme weather and trespass incidents, we're working closely with Network Rail and other industry partners through our Joint Improvement Plan. This comprises a range of actions to drive up performance, particularly on the critical first 60 miles from London, which will help build resilience across the entire route. I will keep you updated on our collaborative efforts to reduce delays.

As a result of our overall improvements in performance, as well as continued investment in customer experience and fleet, customers’ positive sentiment as measured by the Net Advocacy Score has reached record levels, and passenger numbers continue to increase. As a result of these improvements, we are one of only two Department for Transport operators who are returning a premium to Government and generating more money to the taxpayer than we are receiving in subsidy. This delivers on our promise after the pandemic to build our timetable back in both an operationally and financially sustainable manner.

We are also working closely with Network Rail to support customer travel during the current work to replace the bridge that takes the Greek Street roundabout, in Stockport, over the West Coast Main Line. This requires a 21-day closure of the route, which means no trains at Stockport, Macclesfield and Stoke-on-Trent between Saturday 2 to Friday 22 August. Rail replacement buses are operating to these stations, and trains between London and Manchester will take a slightly longer route. You can find out more here.

 

We’re proud to have delivered significant investments and improvements at some of our stations. This includes a £600,000 programme to replace the skylights and add new wayfinding signage at Coventry station, which we’ve undertaken in partnership with Network Rail and the Railway Heritage Trust, and helps brighten the station and further transform the experience for customers. We’ve invested nearly £1mn at Wigan North Western to overhaul the station and create new jobs. Working with Network Rail, improvements include a redesigned main entrance and new Automatic Ticket Gates have also been installed. The programme has created eight jobs – to provide a greater staff presence to assist customers.

Building on the huge success of our previous school outreach programme, Feel Good Field Trips, we’ve now launched its successor, Feel Good Futures, a year-long initiative aimed at educating teenagers about career opportunities in the railway and tying into the UK’s Railway 200 celebrations. We’ve seen the profound impact this engagement has on young people and I’m really excited to see this latest project introducing our industry to the next generation across our network.

Members of our team also recently completed the National Three Peaks by Rail challenge to raise money in aid of the Railway Children - a vital organisation that supports vulnerable children in the UK, India and Tanzania. A huge achievement - well done to our team for raising over £8,000!

Lastly, myself and Shamit Gaiger, Managing Director of West Coast Partnership Development, are looking forward to seeing as many of you as possible at our WCP Stakeholder Conference, which this year will be held on Monday, 22 September, in Birmingham. This is a fantastic opportunity to look in detail at the key issues affecting our railway and to focus on the collaboration to achieve positive results. 

In the meantime, please let me know if there are any issues you’d like to discuss by getting in touch with our Regional Growth Manager team, whose details are included.