The Fast Track to Sustainable Travel

how Avanti West Coast are transforming rail travel for the planet

ON TRACK TO REACH NET ZERO BY 2031

Gaining the advantage of meeting in person and meeting sustainability targets need not be incompatible goals. Our friends at Avanti West Coast are transforming rail travel to offer business customers industry-leading standards of comfort, a significant step up in services, and the opportunity to cut carbon emissions and achieve sustainability targets.

Avanti has recently refurbished its entire Pendolino fleet, with everything from new seats and carpets to wireless charging and power points at every seat. It’s the UK’s biggest train upgrade and it’s making a considerable difference to the customer experience onboard.

June 2024 saw the launch of Avanti West Coast’s brand-new Evero fleet. With more comfort and space onboard and journey-changing innovations such as ergonomic seats and reading lights, the new trains are transforming travel to Liverpool, the Midlands, Chester, and North Wales. Sustainability is built in, with bi-mode trains able to switch seamlessly between diesel and electric power, cutting carbon emissions by around 60% vs their old diesel Voyager trains.

It seems that going with Avanti is the fastest way to achieve sustainability goals. The company itself is on track to reach net zero by 2031. In this article we sat down with Avanti West Coast to find out more. 

LEADING THE WAY IN RAIL INNOVATION

Water Refill Points

Avanti introduced Water Refill Points onboard their Pendolino and Evero trains, a first for the railway industry. In pre-launch operational testing, customers travelling onboard the Pendolino fleet consumed over 21k litres of water in three months, the equivalent of 42,000 standard sized 500ml plastic water bottles. The initiative is part of Avanti’s responsible business commitment to build a cleaner and greener railway, and significantly reduce single use plastic onboard their services.

GoodMaps

In another first for the UK rail industry, supporting visually impaired customers, Avanti teamed up with technology provider, GoodMaps – a free app offering navigation support across their stations. GoodMaps is designed to help people to find their way independently by providing a digital map with visual and audible directions to platforms, toilets, shops and more. It can now be used at Crewe, Stoke-on-Trent, Rugby and Birmingham International stations.

THREE CLASSES OF TRAVEL. FIRST CHOICE FOR BUSINESS

Avanti West Coast sealed its reputation as one of the UK’s most innovative train companies with the introduction of an extra class of travel on its Pendolino trains.

Ideal for business travellers, Standard Premium offers larger seats, more leg room and a guaranteed table. All for a budget-friendly supplement on the Standard fare. Customers looking to make travel time productive time can benefit from wireless charging on tables, power sockets at seats and free WiFi. Priced to be more accessible, designed to be comfortable, Avanti’s unique Standard Premium is another example of how the company is transforming business travel by rail.

Avanti’s First Class stands out for its excellent complimentary food and drink. A policy of sourcing from sustainable suppliers wherever possible means customers can enjoy meals, snacks and drinks made by companies local to the West Coast Main Line. From puddings made in North Wales to butter churned on a Cheshire farm, the First Class menu offers top quality food with a provenance to match.  Change Please coffee is served onboard, where every cup actively supports people experiencing homelessness.

Travelling Standard Class is a very different experience with Avanti. The newly refurbished Pendolino trains and brand new Evero fleet offer customers ergonomic seats and more generous legroom, with free WiFi and sockets for recharging devices. Food and drink are available from the onboard shop and can be ordered ready to pick up with the Click & Collect service.

A RAIL BOOST FOR

BUSINESS TRAVELLER’S

A significant step up in Avanti West Coast’s services from December 2024 means business travellers have more choice and flexibility than ever before. Avanti is now running more services on the Birmingham to Euston route, extra services connecting London to Liverpool, plus a new two-hour service from Manchester to London departing at 7am and arriving in the centre of the capital by 9am.

There are also faster trains from Birmingham to Euston, calling at major stops en route. Customers can also travel on four new trains every weekday from Euston to Liverpool and additional services to Chester and North Wales.

NEW TRAINS, NEW OPPORTUNITIES

In what’s been described as a landmark moment for the city, Avanti West Coast’s brand-new fleet of Class 807 Evero trains is now providing Liverpool with more services to London.

It’s a huge boost for local businesses, with more frequent trains bringing great opportunities for growth. Part of a £350m investment, the new Evero trains mean business customers can enjoy more comfortable travel with ergonomic seats, generous legroom and other journey-changing innovations, such as improved Wi-Fi and wireless charging. With 451 seats and extra tables onboard each train, business travellers have plenty of space to work and recharge.

The first Class 807 Evero trains began running to and from Liverpool last autumn, with more scheduled to roll out in 2025. These are in addition to Avanti’s existing Pendolino trains, which have recently been transformed in the UK’s biggest fleet upgrade. Additional Evero trains are also running to other destinations on the West Coast Main Line. These bi-mode trains switch seamlessly between diesel and electric power, significantly reducing carbon emissions by around 60%, helping businesses to achieve their own sustainability targets.

NEW FIRST CLASS LOUNGE AT GLASGOW CENTRAL

Alongside comfort, convenience and sustainability there’s another reason to travel First Class with Avanti West Coast: their new First Class Lounge at Glasgow Central.

Part of a £5m refurbishment of this beautiful station, the new Lounge is an ideal place to work or relax before boarding. Great care has been taken to preserve the historic nature of the building as well as to meet the needs of the business traveller.

Avanti’s Ticket Office at the station has also been moved and much improved to make life easier for business travellers. Inside, there are two extra welcome desks, more ticket machines and user-friendly information screens. It’s now located near Platforms 1 and 2, where most Avanti trains depart for London.

ALWAYS HERE

Mon - Sun, 24 hours a day

LET'S TALK

Fill in the form below and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.