Avanti West Coast is set to be nationalised.

The government will take control of the private train company, which manages Macclesfield railway station, from March 7, 2027.

New timetables and a major investment in the line's infrastructure will seek to address issues with delays and cancellations, making the service more reliable for passengers.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: "For years, we've heard stories of Avanti underperforming, with passengers left paying the price. Enough is enough. That is why we will bring Avanti into public ownership at the earliest opportunity, in March next year.

"This Labour government is committed to putting essential services back in public hands, connecting people to opportunity and delivering growth in every postcode – and this move reflects that commitment.

"We will also introduce a comprehensive improvement plan, focused on delivering for passengers, not shareholders."

Andy Mellors, managing director at Avanti, said: "We're proud of what we've achieved over the last six years - from refurbishing our Pendolino fleet and introducing our new Evero trains to running more services than ever before.

"Together, these improvements have given customers greater choice, more capacity and better connectivity, while we've continued to innovate to shape the future of the West Coast and wider rail industry.

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"Over the coming months, we'll work closely with the government to ensure a seamless transition into public ownership while remaining focused on delivering for our customers and communities."