Date: 27/11/2014

A consortium made up of Stagecoach and Virgin has won the franchise to run the East Coast mainline rail route. The firms promised to invest £140m in the route over eight years, and will pay the government £3.3bn for the contract. The franchise, which covers the route between London and Edinburgh, has been publicly run since 2009. [Fr0m Mark Bartlett]

External links

East Coast rail winner announced

BBC News

A joint venture between Stagecoach and Virgin wins the franchise to run the East Coast mainline rail route, which has been in public hands since 2009.

Related images

A late running morning GNER Glasgow Central - London Kings Cross service slowly draws to a halt at a crowded Edinburgh Waverley platform 2 on 5 July 2007.
Location: Edinburgh Waverley
Company: North British Railway
05/07/2007 John Furnevel

A southbound NXEC service nears Dalgety Bay on 26 May.  Will any more stock be reliveried in this colour scheme, given the uncertainty over the franchise?
Location: Dalgety Bay
Company: Aberdour Line (North British Railway)
26/05/2009 Bill Roberton

An up East Coast service passing Low Moor Crossing, Northumberland on 5 April heading towards Belford.
Location: Low Moor Crossing
Company: Newcastle and Berwick Railway
05/04/2012 Brian Taylor