North Wales set to welcome more services with new Avanti West Coast timetable
Avanti West Coast adds more seats and services on its North Wales route as part of May timetable change.
• Avanti West Coast adds more seats and services on North Wales route this May
• New timetable offers improved connectivity and sees greater use of Evero trains
• Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales welcomes increase in services across region
Avanti West Coast is set to add more services to its North Wales route as part of its May timetable change.
From Sunday 18 May, the intercity operator is boosting connectivity between Holyhead and London with the addition of 12 services* each week – an increase of 17 percent. Chester will also benefit from a further two services from the capital at the weekend. These include:
• Two additional services each weekday between Holyhead and London Euston – including an early service that provides an early morning arrival into the capital before 9am. The 5pm departure from London Euston will also be strengthened to ten carriages as far as Chester.
• Two extra trains will operate on Saturday – one from Holyhead to London, and one from London to Chester.
• On Sunday an existing service from Holyhead will be extended to London, plus an additional train from London to Chester will operate.
As part of the timetable change, Avanti West Coast is utilising its new £350m fleet of Evero trains to serve the North Wales route with more seats this summer.
The extra services, coupled with the greater use of the intercity operator’s news trains, will add 5890 seats each week between North Wales, Chester and London.
Built by Hitachi, the Evero fleet is quieter and roomier than the Voyager trains, which previously served the region. Customers also benefit from wireless charging for electric devices, improved Wi-Fi, greater legroom, larger luggage racks and more real-time customer information screens which are easier to read.
The Evero trains also feature improved wheelchair spaces with contrasting carpet and a large accessibility symbol, improved accessible toilets, as well as Braille and large print labels on seats.
Ahead of the May timetable launch, Ken Skates MS, Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, joined Avanti West Coast colleagues onboard an Evero to gain an insight into its operation as the train company prepares for its step up in services.
Nick Smith, Regional Growth Manager at Avanti West Coast, said: “We’re delighted to be introducing more services between North Wales and London this summer by utilising our new Evero fleet. These additional services not only deliver on our commitment to improve connectivity to the regions we serve but also enhance the experience for our customers, which we hope will encourage more people to travel by train.
“This latest investment in our North Wales operations continues an exciting chapter for our employees and customers in the region, and we enjoyed marking the occasion by welcoming Ken Skates onboard.”
Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates, said: “This is good news. I am pleased to see progress towards the restoration of services to their pre-covid level.
“Good transport links between North Wales, Chester and the rest of the UK are vital for our economy to thrive and help provide long term benefits for the region. I meet regularly with Avanti and look forward to working with them to deliver further improvements in service levels in the future.”
ENDS
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Notes to editors
Main image: Avanti West Coast Evero train at Llanfairfechan on its journey along the North Wales route.
*From Sunday 18 May 2025, Avanti West Coast will operate the following additional services on its North Wales and Chester routes:
Weekday
• 0445 Holyhead to London Euston
• 0800 London Euston to Holyhead
Saturday
• 0652 Holyhead to London Euston
• 0800 London Euston to Chester
Sunday
• 1500 London Euston to Chester
• 1753 Holyhead to London Euston (extended from Crewe)
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 returned to the rails in June 2024 following a £117m investment programme that’s delivered the best in class comfort. Known as the UK’s hardest working fleet, all 56 of these iconic trains have been transformed and now boast better seats, improved lighting, new interior carpets, customer-friendly passenger information screens, additional luggage space, power points at every seat and refurbished toilets.
Our new Evero fleet was introduced in June 2024. Built by Hitachi, 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