Avanti West Coast celebrates third anniversary of Standard Premium with reduced price advance tickets for summer
Three classes of travel goes from strength to strength as Standard Premium enjoys record year.
- Introduction of three classes of travel hailed a success by West Coast operator
- Over 2.5 million Standard Premium tickets sold since its introduction in 2021
- West Coast operator looks to encourage summer travel with reduced price advance Standard Premium fares and greater availability of its Family ticket
Sales of Avanti West Coast’s popular Standard Premium product have topped 2.5 million journeys in the first three years since launch.
A record last twelve months have seen an additional 100,000 customers travel in Standard Premium, up 11.5% on the previous year.
The West Coast operator became the first train company operating solely in the UK to offer an additional class of travel as part of its services in May 2021. Sitting between Standard and First, Standard Premium customers enjoy roomier seats, greater space and a guaranteed table.
Previously, for a fixed fee customers could upgrade from Standard to Standard Premium but as a ”thank you” to help celebrate the third anniversary of three classes, Avanti West Coast is reducing the upgrade cost to offer lower Standard Premium fares for travel over the summer months.
Customers can take advantage of this discount by booking at least three weeks in advance on long distance routes for travel between 25 July and 1 September 2024, can take advantage of heavily discounted Standard Premium advance tickets, including the lowest fares which start from:
|
Example Flows |
Std Premium lead-in fares |
|
|
Normal Price |
Summer Price* |
|
|
London – Glasgow |
£68.00 |
£59.50 |
|
London – Manchester |
£62.00 |
£54.50 |
|
London – Liverpool |
£51.00 |
£43.50 |
|
London – Birmingham |
£29.50 |
£27.00 |
* when booking at least three weeks in advance
Andy Mellors, Managing Director at Avanti West Coast said: “Standard Premium goes from strength to strength, and much like our popular Superfare, is a great example of how we are innovating to encourage more people to travel by rail.
“And for those looking to get away this summer, there’s even more reason to with our lower Standard Premium fares for those customers who are able to book in advance.”
In addition, Avanti West Coast has frozen the price of its popular Family Ticket, with over half a million heavily discounted tickets available for families looking to escape over the summer months.
Family tickets are for groups from one adult and one child to a maximum of two adults and three children, offering great value prices without the need for a railcard.
|
Example Flows |
Family Ticket |
Family Ticket |
|
Standard Fare |
Std Prem Fare |
|
|
London – Birmingham |
£42 |
£72 |
|
London – Manchester |
£56 |
£106 |
|
London – Liverpool |
£56 |
£106 |
|
London – Glasgow |
£93 |
£153 |
For more details on the Family Ticket please click here.
Contact Information
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.
We’re on a mission to revolutionise train travel. Our refurbed Pendolinos have returned to the rails with a £117m investment that’s delivering the best in class comfort. Known as the UK’s hardest working fleet, the programme is transforming all 56 of these iconic trains boasting better seats, improved lighting, new interior carpets, customer-friendly passenger information screens, additional luggage space, power points at every seat and refurbished toilets.
New Hitachi trains are set to replace our Voyagers from 2024. The 23-strong fleet, consisting of 10 seven-carriage electric trains and 13 five-carriage bi-modes, will serve routes from London to the Midlands, Chester, North Wales and the North West, leading to a substantial cut in carbon emissions with an increase in seats, and offering improved comfort. Quieter and roomier, with more reliable Wi-Fi, wireless charging for electrical devices and a real-time customer information system, these new trains are the result of a £350m investment in sustainable travel.
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