Avanti West Coast encourages customers to book ahead for festive travel plans
Avanti West Coast helps customers plan their festive travel with all ticket types now released including best value fares.
- Avanti West Coast releases all ticket types for travel across Christmas and New Year period
- Best value fares available for customers who plan ahead and book in advance
- Customers advised to check before they travel due to engineering works planned over festive travel dates
Avanti West Coast is encouraging its customers to book tickets for travel over the festive period in advance to take advantage of its best value fares.
Whether travelling to see loved ones, enjoy the Christmas markets or watch a festive show, customers can now wrap up travel plans following the release of all ticket types through to the new year.
These ticket types include the operator’s Advance fares which offer the best value when purchased further ahead of the travel date.
The train operator has also removed peak travel restrictions from Friday 18 December up to and including Sunday 3 January – allowing access to the best value tickets and enhancing flexibility for people making journeys for Christmas and New Year.
Kathryn O’Brien, Customer Experience Director at Avanti West Coast, said: “We know how many people rely on our network for travel to see their loved ones over the festive period, which is why we’re urging customers to book in advance now that all tickets have been released for these key dates.
“Booking tickets early means customers have access to our best value fares, can secure a seat for the journey and are able to start making exciting plans over the holidays.”
Between 24 December and 1 January inclusive, Network Rail will be carrying out engineering work on the West Coast Main Line. During this period, customers are advised to plan ahead, check before they travel and allow extra time for their journey as some timetable changes may include rail replacement buses.
This essential upgrade work includes a five-day closure of Birmingham New Street station from Thursday 24 to Monday 28 December.
Customers planning to travel on the days either side of the closure are advised to travel earlier or later where possible, as Avanti West Coast services on Wednesday 23 and Tuesday 29 December to and from Birmingham are expected to be much busier than usual.
For more information about travelling with Avanti West Coast this Christmas please visit: www.avantiwestcoast.co.uk/christmas.
ENDS
Contact Information
Lauren Haslam
Notes to editors
For more information about the Birmingham New Street station closure between 24 to 28 December, visit: https://www.networkrail.co.uk/our-work/looking-after-the-railway/planned-works/christmas-and-new-year-engineering-works/.
During the festive period:
- Avanti West Coast trains will wrap up early on 24 December (Christmas Eve) and 31 December (New Year’s Eve).
- There will be no Avanti West Coast services on 25 or 26 December (Christmas Day and Boxing Day).
- On 27 December, trains start later than usual in the morning, including no trains before 10:00 to or from Manchester Piccadilly. Services on this day are expected to be extremely busy across all routes.
- On 1 January 2027 (New Year’s Day) trains also start later than usual in the morning.
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