Avanti West Coast amends timetable as part of support for The Commonwealth Games

• West Coast operator to run three trains per hour on London to Birmingham route
• Additional services provide over 10,000 extra seats each day for visitors to Birmingham 2022
• New mural also unveiled at Birmingham International to mark Games

Avanti West Coast will be increasing service levels on its London to West Midlands route for the duration the Commonwealth Games.

The global sports event is due to take place in Birmingham from Thursday 28 July to Monday 8 August, during which time the West Coast operator will be running three trains per hour between London Euston and Birmingham, up from the current two.

This will provide more than 10,000 extra seats each day for visitors to Birmingham 2022, and is part of the wider industry effort, in partnership with the Grand Rail Collaboration, Transport for West Midlands and West Midlands Rail Executive to serve the region as well as meet the increased demand during the games.

Craig Mortiboys, Regional Growth Manager at Avanti West Coast commented: “We can’t wait to play our part in this major sporting celebration with all eyes on Birmingham this summer. We’re proud to be working alongside our industry partners to make sure athletes and spectators get to and from the events during the Games.”

Tickets for travel during the Games are on sale now. To facilitate the additional trains and accommodate thousands of visitors to Birmingham, services on the Manchester to London route will be reduced for the 11 days of the Games. During this period there will be two trains per hour as opposed to the normal three with one service via Stoke-on-Trent and Macclesfield, and the other via Crewe.

With key stations due to be decorated in readiness for the Games, Heart of England Community Rail Partnership in association with Brink Contemporary Arts has also unveiled a new mural at Birmingham International. Funded by Avanti West Coast, the artwork by Brink Contemporary Arts takes its inspiration from the theme of connecting people with place and opportunity.

Using colours from Avanti West Coast’s train livery design as a starting point, the artist's mural concept embodies a subtle sense of movement. Future transport and infrastructure developments are represented by angular shapes and forms. The colours used also reference the varied national flags of the Commonwealth countries, whilst the use of blue is a contextual hint to the Coventry City of Culture 2021. 

The low wall mural also uses the Avanti West Coast Brand colours and symbolises the way rail connects cities and brings people together in celebration.

Julia Singleton-Tasker, Community Rail Officer for the Heart of England Community Rail Partnership added: “Birmingham International, with its proximity to the National Exhibition Centre, is due to play a key part in the delivery of the Games.

“We wanted a visual representation that spectators will see at speed when arriving and departing from the station. At the start of the low wall mural there is a nine square chequered flag motif to hint at the City of Culture and a nod to the two tone music movement that started in Coventry.”

For more information about the Heart of England Community Rail Partnership please visit heartcommunityrail.org.uk or follow @HeartCRP on social media.

For further information about services, customers can visit avantiwestcoast.co.uk

Main Picture from left to right: Julia Singleton-Tasker, Tim from Brinks Contemporary Arts, Rebecca Stone (Station Manager for Avanti West Coast at Birmingham International), Craig Mortiboys