Claw back £12m ‘failing’ rail firm paid out in dividends, Labour urges

Avanti West Coast, which received 343m subsidy, had worst punctuality performance among train operators

Labour has called on ministers to claw back 12m in dividends paid by Avanti West Coast to its shareholders last year, when it was subsidised by 343m by the taxpayer.

Figures released by the rail watchdog on Tuesday showed that Avanti paid out 12m in 2021-22 from management and performance fees.