Amended timetable in place due to extreme heat
Fewer services running on Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester routes with risk of further disruption on the network.
- The Met Office has issued red and amber weather warnings for extreme heat across much of England and Wales
- Fewer services on Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester routes across the week
- Risk of further disruption on the network
Avanti West Coast is operating an amended timetable on selected routes on its network as a result of high temperatures forecast during the latest heatwave.
The Met Office has issued red and amber weather warnings for extreme heat across much of England and Wales from Monday 22 to Friday 26 June.
As a result, the train operator is running an amended timetable on its Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester routes on Tuesday 23, Wednesday 24, Thursday 25 and Friday 26 June, with a risk of disruption across other routes.
Chris Liptrot, Operations Director at Avanti West Coast, said: "We'll be operating an amended timetable on Tuesday 23, Wednesday 24, Thursday 25 and Friday 26 June as a result of the extreme heat weather warnings issued across England and Wales by the Met Office.
“We’ve relaxed ticket restrictions across the four days and recommend customers making journeys with us travel earlier in the day when temperatures are forecast to be cooler. Any customers who no longer wish to travel due to the weather can request a refund via their point of purchase.”
Avanti West Coast is also strongly recommending to customers they travel earlier in the day if possible, with cooler temperatures expected before 12:00. The advice to customer is to check the latest travel advice and ticket options before they travel.
- Ticket restrictions have been relaxed across the Avanti network to support customers making journeys on 23, 24, 25 or 26 June during the hot weather. A full list of these can be found on our website: https://www.avantiwestcoast.co.uk/.
- If customers no longer wish to travel, Avanti West Coast tickets dated Tuesday 23, Wednesday 24, Thursday 25 or Friday 26 June will be eligible for a full refund from point of purchase.
- Customers can use the following link to check their journey before they travel: https://www.avantiwestcoast.co.uk/travel-information/live-train-status
Further advice
In the hot weather across our network over the next few days, here’s how to stay cool, safe and comfortable while travelling with Avanti West Coast.
- Stay hydrated: top up refillable bottles at Water Refill Points onboard and at stations.
- Take your time: don’t rush, especially in the heat. Wherever possible, give yourself plenty of time to catch your train.
- Travelling with pets? Look out for water bowls at our stations to keep them hydrated.
- Feeling unwell? Staff are here to help – please speak to someone if you need support.
Contact Information
Chris Penn
Notes to editors
About Avanti West Coast
Avanti West Coast, operator of intercity rail services on the West Coast Main Line, is a joint venture between FirstGroup and Trenitalia, delivering a cleaner, greener railway that drives the West Coast forward. Avanti West Coast serves key UK cities, including London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow as well as North Wales.
We’re on a mission to be the transport of choice – connecting customers and communities along the West Coast. Our award-winning Pendolino refurbishment programme transformed the UK’s hardest working fleet with all 56 of the iconic trains providing best-in-class comfort.
Our Evero fleet, which offers more seats, improved comfort, and a substantial cut to carbon emissions, was introduced in June 2024 and is the result of a £350m investment in sustainable travel. Built by Hitachi, the 23-strong fleet, consisting of 10 seven-carriage electric trains and 13 five-carriage bi-modes, serves routes from London to the Midlands, Chester, North Wales and the North West.
We want to make a positive difference to the people and places we serve – helping to drive economic growth, green travel, and break down barriers. Our efforts to contribute to society and enable people to benefit from the opportunities rail offers through purpose-led initiatives including Feel Good Field Trips and award-winning female driver recruitment campaign has seen us create over £1billion in social value impact.
We’re tackling climate change wherever we can, from reducing energy and water use to training drivers in eco-driving techniques and sourcing food and drink from local suppliers. Our goal is to be net zero carbon by 2031. We’re on track.
For the latest news, visit the Avanti West Coast Media Centre: https://newsdesk.avantiwestcoast.co.uk/
Press Office: 0845 000 3333