Train operator Avanti West Coast has received government approval to significantly reduce services on the UK's West Coast line during the periods before and after Christmas, a move the company states is intended to save taxpayer money. The cuts, affecting hundreds of services, are scheduled from December 7 to December 23 and again from January 4 to January 7.
Despite the widespread reductions, the London to Manchester route, informally known as the 'No 10 North Line' due to its use by ministers traveling to and from what is described as Andy Burnham's newly established seat of power in the city, will maintain its full schedule. Avanti attributes this to expected demand, particularly citing Manchester's Christmas markets.
Other routes, including those connecting London with Birmingham and Liverpool, as well as services to Crewe, will see numerous daily trains removed. These cuts are expected to eliminate thousands of seats across at least 22 services per weekday.
Avanti, which has faced criticism for its punctuality and reliability, has defended the plan by stating these are not cancellations in the traditional sense, as the affected services were removed before timetables were publicly published and thus never went on sale. The company also noted that passenger numbers are typically lower in December, with many trains running with a significant number of empty seats.
In the latest 12-month period for which data is available, Avanti reported that only 57.4 percent of its services arrived on time. Official statistics also indicate that 5.6 percent of its scheduled services were cancelled.
The operator recently implemented a pay increase for its drivers, including a 3.6 percent raise, time-and-a-half pay for Sundays, and a 13 percent bonus for working on their day off. The cost of running the rail network has fallen to taxpayers since the franchising system was ended in March 2020.
Government officials have reportedly expressed exasperation with Avanti's performance and are considering ways to expedite the planned nationalization of the service, which is slated for 2027. A Department for Transport spokesperson stated that the approved service reductions will reduce the burden on taxpayers by removing underutilized trains from the network. The department added that additional services could be reinstated if demand exceeds expectations.