The UK government announced on 28 September 2026 that it planned to take control of Avanti West Coast's services from 7 March 2027, after its contract ends. In the Department for Transport press release, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the move aimed to improve infrastructure, cut delays and put passengers ahead of profits on the West Coast Main Line. She said performance on the route, described as Britain's busiest, had remained behind the industry average, and that long-term underinvestment in infrastructure was the biggest cause of disruption.

According to the announcement, a dedicated improvement plan would accompany the transfer. Measures included an extra £10 million for power and signalling maintenance to be delivered by the end of 2027, on top of an existing £840 million infrastructure investment; a £50 million investment at Euston station over three years, with £11 million initially for seating, waiting areas and toilets; and a further £10 million for other stations on the line before the end of 2027. Timetable changes, starting from December 2026, would focus on routes in and out of Manchester.

The release said the government was on track to complete all public ownership transfers by the end of 2027, ahead of setting up Great British Railways.