Wenlock Spring partners with Avanti to roll out refill points on trains

The initiative, part of Avanti’s wider £450 million investment in its fleet, will see complimentary water available for those who are travelling on any service operated by a Pendolino train.

The water is being supplied by Wolverton-based Wenlock Spring, and is sourced from a protected historic spring, dating back to 1086.

Matthew Orme, Director at Wenlock Spring, said: “We’re proud to have worked on the development of the onboard refill points with Avanti West Coast. 

“The refill points dispense Wenlock Spring from reusable bottles, which are returned to us for refilling time and time again." 

“Whether you’re commuting, working out, or running errands, easily accessible water encourages healthier drinking choices, making it the ideal choice to stay refreshed throughout the day.”

The easy to use dispensing points proved to be a big hit with Avanti’s customers in the initial trial, whilst also helping to reduce the amount of single-use plastic.

In pre-launch operational testing, customers travelling onboard the Pendolino fleet consumed over 21k litres of water in three months, the equivalent of 42,000 standard sized 500ml plastic water bottles. 

Matthew added: “As an independently-owned and ethically-conscious brand, we're focused on offering Wenlock Spring in a range of formats, bottled sustainably to enable people to stay hydrated, wherever they are."

Bob Powell, Head of Inclusive Customer Experience at Avanti West Coast, said: “The water refill points are another example of how we are raising the bar for rail travel in the UK. 

“With many people now carrying their own water bottle, the opportunity to refill them free of charge is part of our responsible business commitment to build a cleaner and greener railway, and significantly reduces single-use plastic onboard our services.”