Avanti West Coast reduces timetable: what it means for passengers travelling out of London Euston station?

Avanti West Coast has announced a reduced timetable and temporary ticket suspension for its services “until further notice”, affecting a number of routes from London Euston Station.

AWC plans to temporarily suspend ticket sales for travel between 14 August and 11 September while the revised, scaled back timetables are to come into effect from August 18 2022.

The company revealed that the measures were taken following “unofficial strike action” by ASLEF and higher reports of staff sickness leading to several “short-notice cancellations” affecting services.

ASLEF have responded to claims of unofficial strike action and have accused Avanti West Coast of “lying” and not employing “enough drivers to run services they have promised to run”.

How are services from London being affected?

While a timetable is still being developed amidst these changes, Avanti West Coast have confirmed a timetable for dates between August 9 to August 12 2022.

The train routes affected by the new timetable are:

• London Euston - Liverpool Lime Street
• London Euston - Manchester Piccadilly
• London Euston - Glasgow Central Station
• London Euston - Birmingham New Street

Avanti West Coast have updated their reduced timetable to reflect their services for this week (August 15 - August 19) with the following changes:

From London Euston to:

Liverpool Lime Street (August 16 and August 17)

• 5:26, 7:00, 7:47 and then every hour until 20:48

Liverpool Lime Street (August 18)

• 8:45, 9:47, 10:45, 11:50, 12:56, 13:55, 14:47, 15:56 

Liverpool Lime Street (August 19)

• 7:47 and then every hour until 20:48

Manchester Piccadilly (August 16 and August 17)

• 7:20, 8:07, 9:07, 10:07, 11:20 and then every hour until 17:19, 18:20, 18:34, 18:57, 19:20, 19:40, 21:00, 21:36, 22:00

Manchester Piccadilly (August 18)

• 8:40, 9:40, 10:38, 11:30, 12:40, 13:40, 14:37, 15:40

Manchester Piccadilly (August 19)

• 8:19, 9:20, 10:20 and then every hour until 17:12, 18:20, 18:34, 18:57, 19:20, 19:40, 20:00, 21:00, 22:00

Glasgow Central Station  (August 16 and August 17)

• 8:10 and then every hour until 13:11, 14:10, 15:10, 16:10, 16:56, 17:09, 17:39, 18:29, 19:30

Glasgow Central Station (August 18)

• 8:30, 10:30, 12:07, 13:30

Glasgow Central Station (August 19)

• 8:10 and then every hour until 13:57, 15:20, 16:10, 17:09, 17:39, 18:30, 19:30,  

Birmingham New Street (August 16 and August 17)

• 6:43, 7:23, 08:22, 9:23 and then every hour until 15:26, 16:23, 17:23, 17:39, 18:23, 18:43, 19:33, 20:23, 21:39, 22:30, 23:30

Birmingham New Street (August 18)

• 8:43 and then every hour (except 11:39) until 15:43

Birmingham New Street (August 19)

• 7:43, 8:22, 9:23 and then every hour until 15:26, 16:23, 17:23, 17:39, 18:23, 18:43, 19:33, 20:23, 21:39, 22:30, 23:30

To London Euston from:

Liverpool Lime Street (August 16 and August 17)

• 5:27, 7:07 and then every hour until 16:03, 17:03, 17:19, 18:20, 19:00, 20:07, 21:07, 22:00

Liverpool Lime Street (August 18)

• 7:47, 8:56, 10:05, 10:43, 11:38, 12:56, 13:56, 14:56

Liverpool Lime Street (August 19)

•   8:07 and then every hour until 16:03, 17:03, 18:03, 19:00, 20:07, 21:07

Manchester Piccadilly (August 16 and August 17)

• 5:55, 6:10, 6:35, 6:43, 6:27, 7:12, 7:35, 7:55, 8:12, 9:12, 10:15, 11:11, 12:15, 13:11, 14:10, 15:12 and then every hour until 19:15, 20:15, 21:15, 

Manchester Piccadilly (August 18)

• 7:56, 8:47, 9:47, 10:45, 11:47 and then every hour until 15:47

Manchester Piccadilly (August 19)

• 7:35, 7:55, 8:12, 08:35, 9:12, 10:15, 11:11, 12:15, 13:11, 14:10, 15:12, 16:12, 17:12, 18:12, 19:15, 19:55, 20:15, 21:15

Glasgow Central Station  (August 16 and August 17)

• 4:28, 5:33, 6:30, 7:37, 8:36, 9:40, 10:40, 11:33, 12:40, 13:35, 14:34, 15:40, 16:40, 17:30, 18:40, 

Glasgow Central Station (August 18)

• 7:54, 10:08, 14:37

Glasgow Central Station (August 19)

• 7:37, 8:36, 9:40, 10:40, 11:33, 12:40, 13:35, 14:34, 15:40, 16:30, 17:30, 18:40

Birmingham New Street (August 16 and August 17)

• 5:30, 5:50, 6:30, 7:10, 7:30, 7:50, 8:04, 9:05, 10:04, 11:05 and then every hour (except 16:04) until 21:04, 23:06,  

Birmingham New Street (August 18)

• 8:50, 9:50, 10:46, 11:47, 12:50, 13:50, 14:50, 15:50

Birmingham New Street (August 19)

• 8:04, 8:20, 8:47, 9:05, 10:04, 11:06, 12:05, 13:05, 14:05, 15:05, 16:04, 17:05, 18:05, 19:05, 20:05, 21:04, 23:06

What If I have already booked to travel with Avanti West Coast?

Passengers who have booked travel from August 14 are recommended to check the revised timetable.

If your train is removed from the timetable, you will be able to board an alternative AWC service either before or after your booked train.

If any passenger no longer wishes to travel, they can claim a full, fee-free refund from their point of purchase. You can find out more about how to claim your fee-free refund by visiting the AWC website.

Why are Avanti West Coast introducing a reduced timetable?

According to AWC, “unofficial strike action and staff sickness” is the primary reason for reduced services:

“From 14 August until further notice, we will be introducing a reduced timetable on our services. This is due to the current industrial relations climate which has resulted in severe staff shortages in some grades through increased sickness levels, as well as unofficial strike action by ASLEF members.” It reads.

The company has emphasised that this decision has been made to resolve severe “short-notice cancellations” affecting customers.

“The reduced timetable is being introduced to ensure a reliable service is delivered so our customers can travel with greater certainty. This decision was not taken lightly, and we are sorry for the enormous frustration and inconvenience this will cause.”

How has ASLEF responded?

ASLEF General Secretary, Mick Whelan, hits back at claim that drivers are declaring themself unavailable for overtime:

“It’s a time of year when many people are on holiday. Drivers do not have to work overtime and do not wish to volunteer to work on glorious summer days.

“They are a cheapskate company that will not train enough drivers and rely on rest day working. The company is selling its customers short.”

ASLEF union members are planning a 24-hour walkout at nine railway companies on Saturday August 13.