Avanti West Coast looks to recovery

The West Coast operator is optimistic passengers will return, as its MD PHIL WHITTINGHAM and Operations Director NICK WESTCOTT tell PHILIP SHERRATT

At last, the Covid pandemic seems to be abating.That is good news for the railway after a two-year period in which passenger numbers and revenue have fallen significantly due to the continued disruption to our lives.

For Avanti West Coast, revenue dropped to as low as 5% of pre-Covid levels during 2020. But the signs of recovery are promising: Managing Director Phil Whittingham says the operator is projecting total revenues of around £650 million for the financial year ending this March, a considerable improvement on the £150 million of 2020-21.

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