Bore Da Avanti !

Avanti West Coast, which runs trains up the West Coast main line from London to Birmingham, Manchester and Scotland (and stations in between), also runs through to Wrexham and across North Wales to Anglesey.

To make its Welsh passengers feel at home, the Anglo-Italian train operator has introduced Welsh language announcements and information displays on board its services to and from North Wales.

Working closely with the Welsh Language Commissioner, whose vision is a Wales where people can use the Welsh language in their everyday lives, Avanti West Coast has reaffirmed its commitment to the region by modifying its Super Voyager fleet, the trains that run the North Wales services.

The work to convert the existing fleet was undertaken by Bombardier at its Central Rivers depot. Avanti’s new Hitachi bi-mode trains, due in 2022, will also have Welsh announcements.

Tim Barton, onboard manager for Avanti West Coast, said: “This is a simple but important milestone, one that highlights our commitment to serving North Wales.

“With new trains due to arrive in 2022, additional services next year to Llandudno and plans to move into new offices in Holyhead, the investment is set to delivery real benefits for our customers. It’s an exciting time.”

Welsh Language Commissioner Aled Roberts commented: “We welcome Avanti West Coast’s commitment to the Welsh language. It is important that passengers in Wales hear Welsh and realise that it is an official language in Wales. Not only is it an essential service for Welsh speakers, it also raises the awareness of our language among visitors.

“It is great that my officers had the opportunity to work with Avanti West Coast to provide this service. I look forward to seeing how the company will develop their Welsh language service further in the future.”

The news comes after Avanti West Coast reinstated its direct services from London to Holyhead and Wrexham in September 2020.