Avanti West Coast Reviews 

Another horrible experience on the incompetent Avanti West Coast London to Glasgow service. Air conditioning not working and had to endure four hours in 38° Celsius. The train broke down at Wigan and had to be ‘reset’ eventually arriving at my Penrith destination 53 minutes late. Can’t wait for the franchise of this dysfunctional service to be brought back into public ownership

Scummy, unacceptable poor service. On the 9th left around 10:30 is from Euston to Wigan North Western. Arrived at 2pm after 2 delays, fire near Rugby, then supposed tresspasers on the tracks. Fine. Happens. Filed a claim which of course they have downgraded from 1.5h delay to under 1h delay just to pay out less. Not only that but they send you a link to say you can appeal. You follow it to find out you cannot. Despite it being your right to do so. Clink on link why can't I appeal? Of course - doesn't work. Now the kicker. On the way back on the 10th. Again leaving similar time, got on the overcrowded, overbooked train, driver apologised, we were supposed to have 11 carriges but ended up with 9. Enjoy standing or sitting on the floor in 30+ degree heat. I think I'll try my luck trvelling by donkey next time - It would have been a more plesant journey. Oh. And their card reader didnt work on a way back so couldn't even buy a water. Stellar performance by this rail company. Do not recommend.

I travelled Avanti West Coast yesterday on the 1830 off Euston for Glasgow. There were delays because of a line side fire in Cheshire which couldn't be helped.

The on-board crew handled the issue really well. Communication throughout the journey was excellent and staff kept up a good nature whilst all around them was going a bit haywire including the guard and driver making a very important and correct safety decision at Stafford. Train was comfy and.cool too.

The chance of an older person navigating their useless refund process is close to zero.

I’m only giving 1 star because there isn’t an option for no stars. This company’s a total disgrace. Unfortunately I have to travel the west coast mainline regularly and it is never a pleasure. Constant delays, poor service, terrible toilets. How are they even allowed to operate. Currently six hours into a three and a half hour journey. Absolutely packed train, people sitting on the floor. No concern for passengers at all. A COMPLETE SHAMBLES.

If minus stars where available -5 would be too many for this diabolically run excuse for a rail company . I would recommend ANY other form of transport to Avanti West Coast .Late , delayed , cancelled , broken , discourteous , ill informed , ill equipped , rude , contemptuous AVOID AVOID AVOID

This is a terrible service. Booked First Class, told I needed to move two carriages from my booked seat because they couldn’t be bothered delivering catering to three carriages. Jammed into a half carriage with no room and no apologies. They are also constantly late. I would say this company needs to be regulated and thrown out of business. Flying is a better option.

Broken seat (in 1st class). Fridges broken so no cold drinks. Train massively overcrowded. All this cost £180. What a joke. Avoid at all costs

I booked a super off peak return ticket between Ashford International and Birmingham New Street on 8 July 26. My return trip became a nightmare as a combination of train delays and cancellations most heat related. I eventually arrived at Euston at 00:40 well after departure of the last train out of St Pancras. I presented myself to Avanti customer service. Without hesitation iI was escorted by a friendly, smiling Kevin to a taxi rank. An incident-free drive took me to my front door in Ashford, arriving ot 02:20.
Sincere thanks for the professional and charminng end to my nightmare train trip. Greatly appreciated

How is this company still allowed to manage travel between London and Manchester. Joke of a service

Just been through the Rail Ombudsman regarding the fiasco on 8th May from Euston. The RO isn't really fit for purpose, but they kind of ruled in my favour. The issue was that Avanti did not give a damn about leaving passengers stranded with no guidance, alternative routes, or help on that day. They are the worst train company I have ever had the misfortune of traveling with. They have the monopoly on rail travel from the North to London and seem to operate a shoddy, unreliable, expensive service with impunity. The best thing that could happen to them is losing the franchise and it being brought back into public ownership. Seriously, if you have any alternative means of travel, take it. At least you know you will get to your destination and won't be stranded there when it's time to make the return journey.

We caught the 1202 from Euston to Chester. We got a table seat for tge four of us and then had the pleasure of meeting Patrick the train manager and Tim the assistant train manager. What lovely people they are and a credit to the company. One thing to note was the temperature of the carriage we were in Even though it was incredibly not outside the temperature inside was perfect

Myself and friend booked passenger assistance for our holiday from Northampton to the Isleof Man from 1st July to 6th July. The service was excellent and the staff were fantastic and waiting for us at every change. Special thanks to Katie on the Lancaster to Birmingham leg who gave us personal service after we had got into the wrong coach. All the others including Malcolm, Jordan and Mark were great. Thank you. We will be using the service again. Ann and Pam

People if u want avoid stress
Book different transports
I was travelling to Scotland from Burnley
First way the train was over loaded
People use to stand everywhere
And I have to argue for my pre bookings seats with the nasty drunk people
And train was late by one hour that was on
03/06/2026
Now I’m still in train going back
And is exactly same story!!!
That was my first and last experience with AVANTi west coast!
Can’t wait go off from that shiet still 25 min

Train cancelled on way from Liverpool to London . No staff available to ask for advice re seats , verbally abused by people who said we were sitting in their seats. Return journey from London to Liverpool - no cancellations , great , got to platform and we could not find carriage F - it had been taken off ! Got on to ask a member of staff what to do was told find a seat or get off the train but the delightful Nathan . No customer services and just laughed when I asked where his customer service was . We felt that we were just left to fend for ourselves . Not good .

#Avanti terminated the Euston to Glasgow service at Preston and passengers were forced to wait for the next train. They were clearly running algorithms that showed that the disgorged passengers could, just, be accommodated, albeit standing room only on this stuffy, unventilated service. Avanti clearly did this to save money and their attitude is that their customers have no choice so tough on them.

Absolutely disgusting service!!
Avoid this company!
Always delays over 30min or an hour or cancellations!
And over priced tickets!

After 3 cancelled trains I finally got to Crewe only for them to cancel the train I needed after we had stepped on to it, completely unacceptable, the panic caused by this caused me to lose a bag that they seemingly have no interest in helping me find, main customer service gave me the station number but there's no answer there and the main customer service line says they can't help.

You would imagine in a first world country like the uk we would have a rail line linking our 2 major cities (London and Manchester) which works. It is impossible to rely on these trains, to the extent if I have an engagement I have to travel the day before. It can often take 4-8 hours to do a 2 hour journey. Just shocking. An embarrassment to the country

So it gets even better 9.36 Coventry to Edinburgh cancelled at Birmingham international - everyone off - struggled with bags upstairs to Avanti info - told go get train on platform 2 - boarded the train - rammed / when quiet walked the length of the train to my carriage - and it’s the same train I was chucked off because it’s going no further than Birmingham - low and behold it did we are now getting to Preston on the same rain - sh£t show!!! 3.5 hours late to Glasgow 2 weeks ago and looking to be the same for Edinburgh today.

Now stopping at Preston then I have to travel to Glasgow then Edinburgh - if it was a one off fair enough things happen but this is every single time I get the train they are cancelled - I feel sorry for the staff on the train who are great - whose however organising this sh£t show - do better the timetable should just have destinations and a series of question marks - times are pointless - I am struggling to convey my anger and disappointment