What to do if you have left something on the train or at the station
Phones, wallets, bags, umbrellas and more. If you’ve lost something during your train trip, don’t panic, there’s a good chance that we can help reunite you with it. Follow the steps below to start the process of finding your train lost property.
The first step
Before we begin our search for your missing item we recommend having the following details to hand. This will help us track down your lost property as quickly as possible.
We’ll need to know:
- Where you were travelling to and from?
- Which date and what time did you travel?
- Any identifying features of your item including: colour, ID numbers, size, distinct identifying features.
- What are your contact details, including your address?
- Do you have any photos of the item or proof of ownership?
What to do if…
‘I’m on an Avanti West Coast train’
For Avanti West Coast lost property, tell a member of the on-board crew what you’ve lost. The train manager or customer service assistant are best placed to help you at this point – you’re likely to find them in the onboard shop or in First Class.
‘I’m still at an Avanti West Coast station’
If you’re at the station then please locate your nearest information point or ticket office. From there our team will be able to point you in the right direction. If your item has not yet been handed in to the train station lost property then they can provide you with all the relevant information so we can help you continue your search.
‘I’ve already completed my journey'
Where do you think you’ve lost your item?
Onboard an Avanti West Coast Train
Any railway lost property our onboard teams find on the trains will be handed in at the train’s terminating station.
Please note that the train’s final destination may differ from the station you travelled to.
For train journeys terminating at the following stations:
These stations are managed by Network Rail and have a dedicated train lost property service. To contact them you can use their online form. If your item is at one of these stations, they’ll keep it safe at their rail lost property offices. Please note, Network Rail will ask for a small handling fee when you claim your item.
For train journeys terminating at:
These stations are managed by other train companies. Each train company handles train station lost property independently, so you’ll need to contact the train company that manages that terminating station. You can find all the contact details for these companies here.
We also recommend checking our Avanti West Coast lost property portal, just in case it has been handed in elsewhere (please see more information below).
How to check if my lost item has been found
if you've lost something at one of our stations, the first action you should take is to check if your item has been registered on our lost property portal (powered by our lost property partners MissingX) using the link below:
https://avantiwestcoast.missingx.com/
This portal acts as our Avanti West Coast lost and found. Here you can search for your item and register a claim if you think it has been found. Don’t forget to have the information above to hand to prove it belongs to you. You may also see a potential match that has been recorded by another train operator on the MissingX platform. We will share any claims submitted with the relevant operator.
If you can’t see your item then you can register its details, so that an Avanti representative can contact you if a potential match is found by the system.
Please be aware that it can often take a few weeks for items to be handed in and then make their way to the Avanti lost property depot so don’t lose hope!
Tips for registering train lost property
When logging your missing item with our staff or on the portal, it's best to provide as much information as possible. This will give us the best chance at reuniting you with your railway lost property:
- Tell us exactly where you think you left your item
- Provide us with accurate dates and times if possible
- Be specific. If you’ve lost a phone, what is the make? Colour? Wallpaper?
