A major UK train operator has slashed services on some of its busiest routes this summer.
Avanti West Coast has cut one-in-seven services following a request from the government to reduce expenditure.
The operator has confirmed that around 38 daily weekend services will be removed from timetables for six weeks, starting from July 20.
The cuts will affect services connecting London Euston, Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester on the West Coast Main Line.
Typically, Avanti West Coast runs 248 daily services on those routes.
A post shared by Avanti West Coast (@avantiwestcoast)
Avanti West Coast slashes services for summer
Avanti West Coast said it proposed removing services with lower demand following a request from the Department for Transport (DfT) to cut costs.
The train operator said that the new measures will create minimal disruption to passengers and will not affect revenue.
A spokesperson for the DfT said, “This will save taxpayers money while still meeting passenger demand for seats.”
Adding, “The Secretary of State has accepted Avanti’s short-term proposals to amend its weekday summer timetable, when passenger numbers are considerably lower, and many trains run with large numbers of empty seats.”
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The reduction of services comes as all train operators under DfT contracts will be moved into public ownership.
Discussing its change to summer services, an Avanti West Coast spokesperson said: “From July 20 to August 28, we will be operating an amended timetable between London and Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester on weekdays.
“To ensure minimal impact to those travelling between the affected dates, these changes will only affect routes on which we operate more than one train per hour, during typically less busy periods of the day, maximising alternative journey options
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“We’d like to encourage customers planning to make journeys during this time to plan ahead, and thank them for their understanding.”
Avanti West Coast has begun removing the affected services from online ticketing services before becoming available for purchase.
Will the change to Avanti West Coast services affect you? Let us know in the comments.