Coventry named station of the year at National Rail Awards
Avanti West Coast's station team received the award at the London event.
- Avanti West Coast wins at annual National Rail Awards ceremony in London
- Coventry recognised in Large Station of the Year category
- Recent investments and helpful staff impressed judges
Coventry railway station has been honoured at a prestigious railway awards ceremony.
Managed by Avanti West Coast, Coventry was named ‘Large Station of the Year’ at the National Rail Awards.
Members of the station team were on hand to receive the award at the event which was held in London.
Over recent years the station has undergone a massive transformation, turning it into a welcoming gateway to the city. Other nominees in the category included Nottingham, Milton Keynes Central and London St Pancras International.
National Rail Awards’ judges cited, “the recent investments to this station are really proving their worth.” They also paid tribute to the well-maintained facilities, the retail options available and helpful staff who work at Coventry.
In April last year, Avanti West Coast – together with Network Rail and Railway Heritage Trust, completed a project to replace the skylights on Platform 1 as part of a joint £600,000 investment.
The skylights and signage work were part of an ongoing transformation, which in 2022, saw the opening of the £82million purpose-built new look main building and multi-storey car park with a connecting footbridge to all four platforms.
In addition, Avanti West Coast also worked with the Railway Heritage Trust to renovate the station’s unique tiled walls, whilst also providing a more prominent display for the old steam train nameplate ‘City of Coventry’.
Maria McCarron, Avanti West Coast Station Manager at Coventry said: “I’m so proud for Coventry to win this award, and just absolutely delighted that my team have been recognised for their hard work and dedication to deliver a great experience for our customers every day.
“The station has gone through a remarkable transformation over recent years, making it a gateway to the city but also an important transport hub for the region.”
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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 £1bn 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