Editing West Coast Main Line (section)

== Operators ==

=== Avanti West Coast ===
The current principal long distance [[train operating company]] on the West Coast Main Line is [[Avanti West Coast]], which runs the majority of long-distance services under the [[West Coast Partnership]] rail franchise. In November 2016, the government announced that the (then named) [[InterCity West Coast]] franchise would be replaced by a new franchise called 'West Coast Partnership', which includes operating the planned [[High Speed 2]] (HS2) service as well as the existing West Coast Main Line express services. In August 2019, the DfT announced that First Trenitalia West Coast Rail (trading as [[Avanti West Coast]]) was the successful bidder. [[Avanti West Coast]] commenced operating the franchise on 8 December 2019.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/west-coast-marks-new-partnership-model-for-rail |title=West Coast marks new partnership model for rail |date=14 August 2019 |website=DfT |access-date=14 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/nov/27/west-coast-train-services-to-be-rebranded-with-avanti-logo |title=West coast train services to be rebranded with Avanti logo |newspaper=The Guardian |date=27 November 2019 |access-date=28 November 2019 |first=Gwyn |last=Topham}}</ref>

Avanti operates nine trains per hour on the WCML from {{rws|London Euston}}, with three trains per hour to {{rws|Manchester Piccadilly}}, two trains per hour to {{rws|Birmingham New Street}}, one train per hour to each of {{rws|Chester}}, {{rws|Liverpool Lime Street}} and {{rws|Glasgow Central}} via the Trent Valley (one Birmingham New Street train per hour continues to Scotland via {{rws|Wolverhampton}} alternating between {{rws|Edinburgh Waverley}} or {Glasgow Central), five trains on a weekday to {{rws|Holyhead}} and three trains on a weekday to {{rws|Bangor|Wales}}. There is also one weekday train in to/from {{rws|Wrexham General}}. Additional peak terminating services run between London Euston and {{rws|Preston}}, Wolverhampton, {{rws|Crewe}}, {{rws|Birmingham International}}, {{rws|Lancaster}} and {{rws|Carlisle}}. Additional trains during the early morning, late evening, rush hour and night that terminate or start at Birmingham. There are also three daily (Monday to Friday) services between London Euston and {{rws|Blackpool North}}.

=== West Midlands Trains ===
[[West Midlands Trains]] is the current principal commuter and outer suburban operator on the route, and provides some long-distance services which terminate at London Euston. They are all operated under the [[London Northwestern Railway]] brand. There are two trains an hour from London to Birmingham; one calling at the majority of stations ''en route'' and one calling only at {{rws|Watford Junction}}, {{rws|Milton Keynes Central}}, {{rws|Northampton}}, {{rws|Rugby}}, {{rws|Coventry}}, {{rws|Canley}}, {{rws|Tile Hill}}, {{rws|Berkswell}}, {{rws|Hampton-in-Arden}}, Birmingham International and {{rws|Marston Green}}. There are two return trains per hour from Birmingham New Street to London Euston. These London–Birmingham stopping services are roughly one hour slower, end to end, than the [[Avanti West Coast]] fast service. There is also an hourly service from London Euston to Northampton calling at {{rws|Leighton Buzzard}}, {{rws|Bletchley}}, Milton Keynes Central and {{rws|Wolverton}}.

West Midlands Trains also operates an hourly service between London Euston and Crewe, serving Watford Junction, Milton Keynes Central, Rugby, {{rws|Nuneaton}}, {{rws|Atherstone}}, {{rws|Tamworth}}, {{rws|Lichfield Trent Valley}}, {{rws|Rugeley Trent Valley}}, {{rws|Stafford}} and Crewe. Some services also call at {{rws|Hemel Hempstead}}, {{rws|Berkhamsted}}, {{rws|Tring}}, {{rws|Cheddington}}, Leighton Buzzard and Bletchley. Trains also call at {{rws|Long Buckby}} (Sundays only). This service was introduced in 2008 to coincide with the withdrawal of the similar [[Virgin Trains]] service. Under 'Project 110' this service was reconfigured in December 2012 and to operate 10&nbsp;mph faster using enhanced [[British Rail Class 350]]/1 units.

A service to Tring is provided half-hourly from Euston; one calling at {{rws|Harrow & Wealdstone}}, {{rws|Bushey}}, Watford Junction, {{rws|Kings Langley}}, {{rws|Apsley}}, Hemel Hempstead and Berkhamsted and one calling at {{rws|Wembley Central}}, Harrow & Wealdstone, Bushey, Watford Junction, Kings Langley, Apsley, Hemel Hempstead and Berkhamstead. An hourly service operates to Milton Keynes Central calling at Watford Junction, Hemel Hempstead, {erkhamstead, Tring, Cheddington, Leighton Buzzard and Bletchley.

[[West Midlands Trains]] also operates an hourly stopping train on the [[Marston Vale Line]] from Bletchley to {{rws|Bedford}} as well as a 45-minute service on the [[Abbey Line]] to {{rws|St Albans Abbey}}. These are both local branches off the WCML and classified as part of it.

After the [[Central Trains]] franchise was revised, [[London Midland]] took over services running on the WCML between Birmingham and Liverpool. In August 2017, London Midland lost the West Midlands franchise; West Midlands Trains took over in December 2017. Services on the WCML are all branded London Northwestern Railway services, and all local services around Birmingham are branded West Midlands Railway services.

=== TransPennine Express ===
[[TransPennine Express]] provides services along the WCML between {{rws|Manchester Airport}} or Liverpool Lime Street, and Glasgow or Edinburgh (alternating serving each every 2{{nbsp}}hours). 

=== Southern ===
[[Southern (train operating company)|Southern]] provides an hourly service between {{rws|East Croydon}} and Watford Junction, which calls at all stations on the [[West London Line]], then {{rws|Wembley Central}}, Harrow & Wealdstone and Watford Junction.

=== CrossCountry ===
[[CrossCountry]] operates services from {{rws|Plymouth}}, {{rws|Bournemouth}} and {{rws|Bristol Temple Meads}} to Manchester Piccadilly; these trains run along the West Coast Main Line between Coventry and Manchester Piccadilly. Some trains from Manchester Piccadilly to Bristol Temple Meads are extended to {{rws|Paignton}} and Plymouth, and on summer weekends to {{rws|Penzance}} and {{rws|Newquay}}. CrossCountry services between {{rws|Reading}} and {{rws|Newcastle}} also use a small portion of the West Coast Main Line between Coventry and Birmingham New Street.  CrossCountry also operates occasional services to/from Glasgow Central, which operate to either Penzance, Plymouth, Newcastle upon Tyne, Bristol Temple Meads or Birmingham New Street. On summer weekends trains from Glasgow Central also operate to Paignton, Penzance and Newquay. These services use the West Coast Main Line from Edinburgh to Glasgow Central.

===  ScotRail ===
[[ScotRail]] operates services on sections of the West Coast Main Line for example near Glasgow with [[Argyle Line]] trains running on the section from {{rws|Cambuslang}} to {{rws|Carluke}} before veering off on the short branch to {{rws|Lanark}} or continuing to {{rws|Carstairs}}. The [[North Berwick Line]] runs from Glasgow Central High Level via {{rws|Motherwell}} to Carstairs and on to {{rws|Haymarket}}, Edinburgh Waverley and {{rws|North Berwick}}.

At {{rws|Carlisle}} the [[Glasgow South Western Line]] runs for several miles before heading west towards {{rws|Dumfries}}, {{rws|Kilmarnock}}, {{rws|Ayr}} and {{rws|Stranraer}}.

=== Caledonian Sleeper ===
[[Caledonian Sleeper]] operates services down the length of the West Coast Main Line, providing an overnight services each way between London and Scotland.