Virgin Trains loses West Coast Mainline franchise

[xxMATTGxx]

Virgin Rail has lost its bid to continue running the West Coast Mainline and will be replaced by the UK's largest rail operator, FirstGroup.

FirstGroup said it would "offer substantial improvements in the quality and frequency of services".

Sir Richard Branson said Virgin's loss of the franchise was "very disappointing news".

Unions and rail campaigners have argued jobs will be cut, fares will rise and catering services will be cut back.

FirstGroup already operates a number of rail routes including Great Western and ScotRail.

The company, under the name First West Coast Limited, will take over the franchise from 9 December and is due to to operate the service until 2026.


'Bitterly disappointed'

Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Rail has operated the West Coast franchise since 1997 after the privatisation of Britain's railways.

"We did not want to risk letting everybody down with almost certain bankruptcy at some time during the franchise, as happened to GNER and National Express who overbid on the East Coast mainline," said Sir Richard in a statement.

"Sadly the government has chosen to take that risk with FirstGroup and we only hope they will continue to drive dramatic improvements on this line for years to come without letting everybody down," he added.

Sir Brian Souter, the chief executive of Virgin's franchise partner Stagecoach, said: "I am bitterly disappointed that Virgin Rail has been unsuccessful in its bid.

"After 15 years, it is difficult to imagine a West Coast rail service without the Virgin brand."

He said the group would now look at whether to bid on other rail franchises coming up for renewal.

Can read more about it here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19264614#TWEET195384

Can also read Virgin's press statement here: http://www.virgin.com/richard-branso...-virgin-trains


Bit of a shame really - I wonder how good First will do at having the franchise, if they are like the buses then good luck to the passengers!

[-:Undertaker:-]

Why is the state in the business of granting rail contracts? so much for 'privatisation'.

[Ardemax]

Sounding slightly dumb here, but where does the West Coast Mainline run? And please don't say the "West Coast".

[xxMATTGxx]

Sounding slightly dumb here, but where does the West Coast Mainline run? And please don't say the "West Coast".

All the way from Edinburgh to London Euston - Looks something like this:

Note: Stations might be missing from it but it gives you an idea of the line

[RyRy]

eugh virgin trains were like the best when i had to travel from london to birmingham and liverpool firstgroup are terrible if their south west service is anything to go by ughhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[lTraditional]

I wonder how good they are because I swear, if they are like the bus services in Birmingham (especially yesturday, leaving me half an hour late somewhere) I will scream. Long story short from yesturday's experience: I waited for the 5pm bus, got their at 4:45 as it is sometimes early, instead it decided not to come so I had to catch the 5:30pm bus which came 10 minutes late so 55 minutes at the bus stop and I was meant to meet people at 5:15!

[hamheyelliot]

Bitterly disappointed at this, Virgin Trains are pretty much half the story of my childhood going between London and Manchester every few months. They'll also strip out the nice little catering bit with the sandwiches and drinks for more seats. That sucks too.

[Neversoft]

**** FirstGroup. They own the southern FCC commuter services to London and they are literally the worst trains I have ever been on in every possible aspect. Customer service is next to nothing, the trains are awfully maintained and always late. I use Virgin's West Coast service a lot, and besides the air conditioning sometimes set to freeze, they have been perfect, every single time. Plus the advance fares are a godsend. If they change those in any way I will explode with insane rage. Why would they do this to our dear Branson. Down with the government!

[Inseriousity.]

If firstgroup also run first transpennine express, I use this to commute to uni and it's a brilliant train although admittedly this may be because I'm in the North and according to southerners most of us are still using the old horse and carriages. ;P

They should really change the standard class to first class and first class to you have more money than sense class because train fares are ridiculous. Hooray for the railcard, I'd be stuffed without you.

[Circadia]

Oh God that's the line I used to get down to London all the time
If they are bad trains I'll actually scream cause I had hardly any complaints with the Virgin trains
I'll guess I'll find out what they are like when I next go to London -_-