Avanti reduces services affecting Crewe in December
Rail operator Avanti West Coast will remove 22 daily services from its timetable during the run-up to Christmas, with trains calling at Crewe among those affected. The company says the move is a demand-led response and will be in place from Monday 7 December to Wednesday 23 December.
The changes are expected to take thousands of seats off the West Coast Main Line during one of the busiest periods of the year. Avanti said services between London and Manchester will be maintained because demand is expected to be higher to serve Manchester’s Christmas markets, and those trains also serve Crewe.
- Dates affected: 7–23 December (demand-led timetable)
- Number of services cut: 22 daily trains
- Routes impacted: services between London, Birmingham, Liverpool and Crewe
Passengers travelling from Crewe in December have been urged to plan ahead. Avanti said the demand-responsive timetable means services can be increased if passenger numbers prove higher than expected. The operator also plans a reduced timetable between Christmas and New Year to accommodate planned engineering works.
"We'd like to encourage customers planning to make journeys during this time to plan ahead, and we thank them for their understanding."
The changes form part of a cost-saving package agreed with the Department for Transport. The DfT said passenger numbers are considerably lower in December, with some trains running with many empty seats, and that the proposals would "save taxpayers money by taking empty trains off the line". Weekend service levels will reportedly be maintained.
The move comes amid continuing criticism of Avanti’s performance. The Office of Rail and Road’s latest figures show only 57.4% of Avanti services arrived on time during the most recent 12-month period, and the operator recorded a cancellation rate of 5.6%, leaving it as one of the poorest-performing operators for reliability over the period.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| On-time arrivals (latest 12 months) | 57.4% |
| Cancellation rate | 5.6% |
For Crewe, a key interchange on the West Coast Main Line, the changes are likely to have practical consequences for commuters, shoppers and families travelling for the festive season. While London–Manchester services that call at Crewe will continue, passengers who normally use Avanti trains on other corridors – notably services linking London, Birmingham and Liverpool – may see fewer direct options and will need to check alternative routes or connections.
There is also a wider context for the cuts: Avanti’s services are due to be brought into public ownership in 2027 as part of the Government’s wider plans for the rail network. The Crewe–London–Manchester corridor has been described as strategically important in linking Westminster with the North, a point often underlined when timetables and investment for the route are discussed.
Local rail user groups and passengers will be watching closely to see how the demand-led timetable plays out. Avanti has said it will monitor usage and adjust services if necessary, but in the immediate term travellers from Crewe should:
- Check Avanti and National Rail timetables before travelling in December
- Allow extra time for journeys and consider earlier or later trains where available
- Look at alternative operators or routes if direct Avanti services are reduced
With engineering work scheduled between Christmas and New Year also affecting services, the festive period looks set to be more complicated for rail passengers than in recent years. Crewe’s role as a transport hub means the town will feel those changes, whether in delayed connections or fewer direct services.
Passengers can expect further detail from Avanti and the Department for Transport as the timetable is finalised. In the meantime, those planning trips around Christmas should keep tickets and travel plans under review and allow extra time for their journeys.
