Editing West Coast Main Line (section)

=== 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}}.