West Coast Partnership Development

What West Coast Partnership Development does

West Coast Partnership Development (WCPD) is a UK-based rail development entity established in December 2019 as part of the West Coast Partnership, a joint venture between FirstGroup (70%) and Trenitalia (30%). Headquartered in London with 69 employees, WCPD functions as the 'shadow operator' for the UK's HS2 high-speed rail programme, responsible for designing and developing future high-speed rail services that will operate on the new HS2 infrastructure and the existing West Coast Main Line. The company partners with HS2 Ltd, the Department for Transport, Network Rail, Hitachi Rail, Alstom and Arup to shape train interiors, station experience, timetable planning and an integrated operating model covering London, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Cumbria and Scotland.

WCPD's core outputs are design rather than operational assets. The firm has built the Unified Target Operating Model (UTOM) with HS2 and Network Rail, deployed 3D-printed train prototypes for stakeholder review, and partnered with Arup's Experience Lab to deliver immersive 3D visualisation of HS2 routes, stations and train interiors. WCPD also informs the specification of Avanti West Coast's £350m Hitachi Evero fleet (23 trains) and £117m Pendolino refurbishment programme. Expected outcomes include a £10 billion economic uplift over ten years for the West Midlands and a target of net zero carbon by 2031 for Avanti West Coast operations.

Revenue is secured under a National Rail Contract (NRC) with the Department for Transport running from 15 October 2023 to 17 October 2032, with a core three-year term to October 2026. WCPD does not set or collect passenger fares; the DfT funds the entity for design, development and advisory work through a managed-services structure. Trenitalia contributes its Frecciarossa high-speed rail expertise and FirstGroup brings UK rail operational experience, with the JV funding WCPD's activities through the NRC mechanism.

Name

West Coast Partnership Development

Legal name

West Coast Partnership Development

Website

https://westcoastpartnershipdevelopment.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

West Coast Partnership Development designs and develops future high-speed rail services for the UK's HS2 programme and West Coast Main Line, serving as the joint-venture shadow operator (FirstGroup 70%, Trenitalia 30%) for the Department for Transport.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

High-Speed Rail Service Development

NAICS

Support Activities for Rail Transportation (48821)

SIC

Railroads, Line-Haul Operating (4011)

akta.pro primary industry

High-Speed Rail (HSR) Operators (TLAFADAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Fueling, Charging & Energy Management (Diesel/CNG/H2/EV) (THAIANAF)

Keywords

• High-speed rail services
• Rail service design
• HS2 shadow operator
• Rail infrastructure planning
• Intercity rail development

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. National Rail Contract with Department for Transport: Government-funded contract to design, develop and eventually operate high-speed rail services on the HS2 route and existing West Coast Main Line. The contract runs from 15 October 2023 to 17 October 2032 with a core three-year term to October 2026. Revenue is secured through DfT funding rather than direct passenger fares.
2. Joint Venture Partnership Structure: Revenue flows through FirstGroup (70%) and Trenitalia (30%) joint venture structure, with Trenitalia contributing high-speed rail expertise from Italian operations and FirstGroup providing UK rail operational experience.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

WCPD serves as the shadow operator for the UK's HS2 programme, designing and developing new high-speed rail services that will operate on the HS2 route and the existing West Coast Main Line. The entity advises the Department for Transport on future rail services under a National Rail Contract running from October 2023 to October 2032, while collaborating with HS2 Ltd on train fleet design, station design, and the Unified Target Operating Model. Related entity Avanti West Coast operates current intercity services; WCPD focuses on developing the next-generation high-speed service proposition.

Product overview

West Coast Partnership Development (WCPD) is designing and developing new high-speed rail services for the UK. Working in partnership with HS2 Ltd, FirstGroup, and Trenitalia, WCPD is creating future high-speed services that will operate on the new HS2 railway line and the existing West Coast Main Line, delivering improved connectivity between London, the West Midlands, the North West, and Scotland. WCPD serves as the Shadow Operator for the HS2 program, focusing on customer experience design, business model development (Unified Target Operating Model), and operational planning for these future services. The company is also involved in the design of new train fleets including the Hitachi Evero fleet and Pendolino fleet upgrades for Avanti West Coast.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• High-Speed Rail Services (HS2 Programme) WCPD is designing and developing new high-speed rail services that will operate on the new HS2 route and the existing West Coast Main Line, connecting London with Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Cumbria and Scotland. The service is being designed for UK intercity passengers under a government contract with the Department for Transport.

Quantifiable outcome

• Expected £10 billion economic uplift over 10 years across West Midlands
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, key and supporting.

• HS2 LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2019WCPD works in close partnership with HS2 Ltd, the company building Britain's new high-speed rail line. This is the most critical partnership for WCPD's mission, as they collaborate on train fleet design, station design, and operational planning for future high-speed services that will run on the new HS2 infrastructure from London to the North-West.
• FirstGroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2019FirstGroup is the majority partner (70%) in the West Coast Partnership joint venture. They bring decades of UK rail operating experience including Avanti West Coast, Great Western Railway, Hull Trains, Lumo, and South Western Railway. FirstGroup has established working relationships with Hitachi Rail for new train fleets.
• TrenitaliacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2019Trenitalia holds 30% of the West Coast Partnership joint venture. They bring over 20 years of high-speed rail experience from Italy, including their Frecciarossa service operated with ETR1000 trains built by Hitachi Rail and Alstom. This provides a benchmark for WCPD's service design.
• Network RailcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWCPD works with Network Rail to ensure existing railway infrastructure is ready for new high-speed services. Key activities include station enhancements, timetable planning for faster journey times, and supporting introduction of new high-speed trains on the West Coast Main Line.
• Department for TransportcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe DfT sets strategic direction for the rail industry and is the funder and sponsor for HS2. WCPD advises and supports the DfT by making recommendations around future rail services under the National Rail Contract.
• Hitachi RailkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerHitachi Rail is building the new high-speed train fleet for WCPD. They have previously worked with FirstGroup on Class 800 fleets for Great Western Railway, Hull Trains, and Lumo. The 23-strong Evero fleet for Avanti West Coast represents a £350m investment.
• AlstomkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlstom built and maintains Avanti West Coast's Pendolino trains (56 trains, £117m refurbishment). They also manufacture trains alongside Hitachi Rail for high-speed operations, bringing extensive train manufacturing and maintenance expertise.
• ArupsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArup provides advisory services in design, engineering, architecture and planning. WCPD has partnered with Arup's Experience Lab for immersive 3D visualization technology to help design and test high-speed rail concepts and customer experiences.
• UK Rail Research and Innovation Network (UK RRIN)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK RRIN collaborated with WCPD and University of Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education to host the 'Travelling with Confidence' Conference focusing on accessibility, inclusivity and customer needs.
• University of Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and EducationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner collaborating on railway research, innovation and education initiatives including the 'Travelling with Confidence' accessibility conference.
• Railway ChildrensupportingOthersRailway Children is a charity helping children and young people experiencing homelessness in UK, India and Tanzania. WCPD employees regularly participate in fundraising events including Yorkshire Three Peaks, Metropolitan Line walk, and Circle Line charity walks, raising over £2,000 to £1,000+ per event.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/west-coast-partnership-development

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about West Coast Partnership Development