Avanti nationalisation welcomed by rail unions

Labour Conference 2026 / 28 September 2026 Anti-Rosebank oil field protesters chant ‘don’t Burnham’ outside party conference 28 September 2026 Terrorism / 28 September 2026 Iran denies ties to RAF Fairford bomb plot 28 September 2026 Labour Conference 2026 / 28 September 2026 Migrant workers pose as slaves in Unison protest against visa reforms 28 September 2026 Labour Conference 2026 / 28 September 2026 Healey pledges ‘reindustrialisation’ through arms spending 28 September 2026 Labour Conference 2026 / 28 September 2026 Striking rail workers and migrant care workers join Insource Now rally at Labour conference 28 September 2026 RAIL unions have welcomed the announcement that Avanti West Coast services will be brought under public ownership next year.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said today that the company will be nationalised from March when its current contract comes to an end.

“For years, we’ve heard stories of Avanti underperforming, with passengers left paying the price. Enough is enough,” she said.

Nationalisation will be supported by a plan to improve infrastructure, reduce delays and improve passenger experience, the government added.

The TSSA union said that the end of Avanti was “long overdue and puts passengers before profit,” with general secretary Maryam Eslamdoust saying: “Our union has campaigned long and hard for the end of privatisation on our precious railways and this is another major step in the right direction as we move towards a unified, publicly run railway.

“However, this can’t just be about a change of ownership or branding, but better and more reliable services, proper investment, improved safety and decent, secure jobs across the network.

“Our members who keep West Coast Main Line services running must have their pay, pensions, travel facilities and terms and conditions protected as we move into the era of Great British Railways.”

She also called for “track and train together under one accountable public body and a properly funded railway.”

“Any cuts, understaffing and outsourcing would undermine the very benefits public ownership is meant to achieve,” Ms Eslamdoust said.

The RMT union said that nationalisation should not leave outsourced workers behind, as thousands of cleaners, gate line, security staff, infrastructure maintenance, renewal and engineering workers are employed under private contracts.

General secretary Eddie Dempsey said that outsourcing companies were raking in over £400 million each year in profits by pushing staff pay and conditions down as low as possible, creating poor morale and repeated disputes.

“Thousands of outsourced workers are increasingly frustrated at suffering poorer wages, poorer pensions no sick pay and being treated as if they are a second-class workforce,” he said.

“The RMT continue to use all means to maintain pressure on the government until all rail workers are bought in-house to provide a better public service.

“It makes sense to the workforce and the taxpayer.”

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