RAILSCOT | Virgin Trains offers to run West Coast 'for free' [BBC News]

Virgin Trains offers to run West Coast 'for free' [BBC News]

Date: 26/08/2012

Sir Richard Branson has offered to run the West Coast Mainline 'for free' to give Parliament time to review the £10bn franchise's award to FirstGroup. He said Virgin Trains and Stagecoach would run it on a not-for-profit basis after December - when they are due to hand over the franchise - if more time was needed for a review. More than 100,000 people have signed an online petition against the decision.

External links

Virgin 'would run rail line free'

Sir Richard Branson next to a Virgin Pendolino train

BBC News

Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson offers to run the West Coast Mainline "for free" so Parliament can review the franchise's award to FirstGroup.

Related images

Twins - Glasgow Central and Manchester Piccadilly Virgin Pendolinos at London Euston in 2005.
Location: Euston
Company: London and Birmingham Railway
23/07/2005 John Furnevel

A Glasgow - London Pendolino service runs under Victoria Viaduct and into Carlisle station on 3 June 2010.
Location: Carlisle
Company: Caledonian Railway
03/06/2010 Colin Miller

The 1740 hrs Glasgow Central to London Euston Pendolino service leans into the curve as it passes the Abington loops on 3 July 2010.
Location: Abington
Company: Caledonian Railway
03/07/2010 John McIntyre

Related news items

Tags: x Virgin Trains

Date	Item
07/12/2019	Virgin Trains says 'Thank You' as last train set to depart [Virgin Trains]
07/12/2019	From talking toilets to speed records: How Virgin Trains changed British railway travel [ITV News]
05/12/2019	Virgin Trains becomes first train operator to trial onboard 5G Wi-Fi [Virgin Trains]
26/11/2019	All aboard: bosses keep roles as Virgin hands over to First Group [The Guardian]
11/11/2019	London-Glasgow passengers choose rail over air [BBC News]
20/09/2019	Competition watchdog probes West Coast Rail franchise award [Scotsman]
14/08/2019	FirstGroup replaces Virgin to run West Coast route [BBC News]
24/06/2019	New app to help rail passengers when services are cancelled [ITV News]
31/05/2019	Train firm announces split ticketing rail journey app [ITV News]
24/05/2019	Virgin Trains takes government to court over West Coast route [The Guardian]
24/04/2019	Standing on long rail journeys to be banned under Virgin Trains plan for airline-style fares [Telegraph]
10/04/2019	Virgin Trains 'could disappear' after franchise bar [BBC News]
04/04/2019	Passenger numbers up on Virgin trains between Glasgow and London [BBC News]
28/02/2019	Virgin Trains rolls out Alexa feature to assist disabled passengers [Railway Technology]
23/12/2018	Virgin Trains gets one-year extension to run west coast mainline [The Guardian]
05/09/2018	Grayling pushes for Britain railway review amid commuter anger [Guardian]
28/06/2018	Chinese rail companies in front to run HS2 trains as British Virgin Trains and First Group struggle [Daily Mail]
24/06/2018	East Coast train line back under public control [BBC News]
23/06/2018	Final day for Virgin Trains East Coast [ITV News]
19/05/2018	The bad bet at the heart of the East Coast rail franchise implosion [Guardian]
14/05/2018	East Coast rail franchise 'to be scrapped' by transport secretary [Guardian]
19/04/2018	Legal threat over Virgin Trains East Coast rail franchise [BBC News]
19/03/2018	Passenger train struck rail left on track near Inverness [BBC News]
10/03/2018	Virgin Trains rival Grand Central applies to run more services on East Coast mainline [Telegraph]
02/03/2018	ScotRail testing network in bid to get trains moving [Scotsman]
15/01/2018	ScotRail ranks bottom in Scotland says consumer watchdog study [Herald]
22/12/2017	Virgin Trains West Coast strike called off [BBC News]
19/12/2017	New Azumas get inaugural Scottish Highlands run [RTM]
15/12/2017	Virgin Trains staff hold 24-hour strike [BBC News]
30/11/2017	Grayling misleading Commons on East Coast rail 'bailout', says Labour [Guardian]
16/11/2017	Virgin West Coast rail workers to strike [BBC News]
10/10/2017	HITRANS Autumn Newsletter [HITRANS]
15/09/2017	West Coast main line: Long delays after Harrow fire [BBC News]
16/08/2017	Virgin Trains Azuma crosses Border for first time [Scotsman]
04/05/2017	Virgin unveil new ticketing structure to save customers £7.1m a year [RTM]
24/04/2017	Virgin and Stagecoach join with SNCF on HS2 WCP franchise bid [RTM]
23/04/2017	Rail royalty Flying Scotsman meets modern era trains [BBC News]
22/04/2017	Flying Scotsman will measure up to modern trains in unique Yorkshire railway event [Yorkshire Post]
13/04/2017	Virgin Trains East Coast staff to stage 48-hour strike [BBC News]
23/03/2017	ScotRail's 'new' HSTs [Rail Engineer]
21/03/2017	Four trains, four generations - history to be made on Yorkshires East Coast Main Line [Virgin Trains]
04/02/2017	Virgin Trains acting like Gestapo, says businessman detained after exploiting ticket loophole [Telegraph]
04/02/2017	Woman praises train guard after racist attack [BBC News]
01/02/2017	Air passenger duty cut 'will reduce train travel' [BBC News]
25/01/2017	Virgin Trains completes £40m East Coast fleet refurbishment [RTM]
10/01/2017	Lancashire MP Mark Menzies to fight 'barmy' rail fares to London [BBC News]
10/10/2016	Virgin Trains recruiting £57,000 drivers for east coast line [Scotsman]
03/10/2016	Virgin Trains East Coast rail staff strike under way [BBC News]
26/09/2016	Virgin East Coast rail staff to strike on 3 October [BBC News]
21/08/2016	Services resume after West Coast Main Line derailing [BBC News]
18/08/2016	Virgin Trains East Coast August strikes suspended [BBC News]
09/08/2016	Virgin East Coast rail staff vote to strike [BBC News]
12/05/2016	First Group to run Edinburgh to London budget rail service[BBC News]
03/04/2016	Trains, boasts and planes: Virgin bids to put rail on top [Scotland on Sunday]
20/03/2016	Virgin Trains East Coast Azuma Train In Action! [Citytransportinfo]
18/02/2016	How much for a private rail carriage from Edinburgh to London? [Scotsman]
15/02/2016	Extra trains launched linking London with Edinburgh [Evening Standard]
10/01/2016	Virgin unveils first train of refurbished fleet [Rail News]
06/01/2016	Virgin to by-pass West Coast Rail Line blockage [BBC News]
14/12/2015
14/12/2015	First Sunderland Virgin train arrives in London King's Cross [Sunderlad Echo]
08/12/2015	West Coast Main Line reopens after Carlisle flood [Rail News]
24/11/2015	Virgin East Coast plans £21m refurbishment for trains [BBC News]
29/10/2015	New livery for Flying Scotsman train unveiled [Evening News]
22/06/2015	First Virgin liveried HST enters service on East Coast [Rail News]
21/05/2015	Rail unions call off national bank holiday strike [BBC News]
25/03/2015	Edinburgh rail workers to strike on Good Friday [BBC News]
01/03/2015	East Coast rail back in private hands [BBC News]
12/01/2015	Virgin Trains reports surge in cross-border travel [BBC News]
14/12/2014	New Shrewsbury to London rail service begins [BBC News]
24/09/2014	Major rail disruption \| Virgin Trains driver injured by electric shock en route to Liverpool Lime Street [Liverpool Echo]
23/09/2014	Blackpool and Shrewsbury direct rail services to London approved [BBC News]
17/08/2014	ScotRail and Virgin ‘trusted’ by passengers [Scotland on Sunday]
19/06/2014	Virgin Trains to run west coast mainline until 2018 [Guardian]
13/06/2014	Network Rail grants access rights to new WCML operator [IRJ]
03/12/2013	Railway changes to benefit passengers [Blackpool Gazette]
16/11/2013	Direct Shrewsbury-to-London train services to restart [BBC News]
01/10/2013	Richard Branson's Virgin Trains tops fares league with 210% increase in prices [Evening Standard]
07/06/2013	Network Rail faces action over late and cancelled trains [BBC News]
30/05/2013	Virgin Trains expands for Glasgow 2014 [BBC News]
05/12/2012	Virgin Trains to run West Coast Mainline for extra 23 months [BBC News]
19/09/2012	Government team in place to run West Coast Main Line [Telegraph]
30/08/2012	Plans to transform railway station [Lancashire Evening Post]
28/08/2012	Virgin Takes Legal Action Over Train Deal [Sky News]
15/08/2012	Richard Branson attacks Government 'insanity' after Virgin Trains loses West Coast rail contract [Telegraph]
16/07/2012	FirstGroup vies with Virgin in west coast rail bidding war [The Guardian]
23/06/2012	Trains disrupted by heavy flooding on West Coast main line [STV]
23/03/2012	Virgin just the ticket but ScotRail lagging behind, say travellers [Scotsman]
14/03/2012	Longer trains to boost Virgin Trains capacity [Rail.co]
29/10/2011	Train firms blame thieves for lateness [Scotsman]
05/10/2010	Preston station improvement plans
03/01/2010	Virgin Trains staff begin strike [BBC News]
19/11/2009	Virgin staff strike is called off [BBC News Article]
27/05/2009	Rise in on-time trains but Virgin complains of delay [Guardian]
25/01/2008	Virgin is best for customers [Evening News]
16/10/2007	Virgin trains end on best punctuality
10/07/2007	Virgin loses Cross Country rail [BBC News]
15/05/2007	All change for train [Scotsman]
22/09/2006	Virgin train speed record attempt [BBC News]
21/09/2006	Wireless web for Virgin trains [Scotsman]
31/05/2006	Cornwall train link gets back on track [Scotsman]
28/02/2006	Rail operator trumpets success after best month [Scotsman]
11/01/2006	Fare response to rail strike [Scotsman]
01/10/2003	New Pendolino train named 'City of Edinburgh'
07/01/2002	Virgin Voyagers replace 158s
16/09/2000	Polmadie Open Day

Virgin Trains offers to run West Coast 'for free' [BBC News]

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