On 19th September 2023 the Secretary of State for Transport announced:
"I am updating the House that the Department for Transport has negotiated a National Rail contract for the West Coast Partnership rail operator.
In March 2023, the Department extended the contract with First Trenitalia to operate passenger rail services on the West Coast Partnership. Under this contract, which ends on 15 October 2023, First Trenitalia—as Avanti West Coast—operates express services on the west coast main line.
Today we have awarded a National Rail contract to First Trenitalia to continue operating the West Coast Partnership, providing West Coast train services as
Avanti West Coast. This contract, starting on 15 October 2023, will have a core term of three years and a maximum possible term of nine years. After three years, the contract can be terminated at any point with three months’ notice at my discretion.
AND
"I am also updating the House that the Department for Transport has negotiated a National Rail contract for the Cross Country rail operator.
In October 2020 at the height of the pandemic, the Department entered into a unique operating cost franchise agreement with Arriva UK Trains Ltd to operate passenger rail services on Cross Country. The core term of this contract ends on 15 October 2023.
Today we have awarded a National Rail contract to Arriva UK Trains Ltd to continue operating the Cross Country rail services. This contract, starting on 15 October 2023, will have a core term of four years and a maximum possible term of eight years. After four years, the contract can be terminated at any point with three months’ notice at my discretion"
Read more from Cross Country here
There have been a number of articles in the Press about this.
Gwyn Topham's article is here...
The RMT union's Press Office wrote as follows...