Monday, May 20, 2024 Virgin Trains has applied for a license to operate rail services on the West Coast Mainline, five years after losing the franchise to Avanti West Coast, a successor that has faced significant criticism for delays and cancellations. Over the weekend, Virgin Group confirmed that it had submitted an application to the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) for an Open Access license. This type of license would allow Virgin Trains to run services independently, without government subsidy, alongside franchised operators like Avanti.
A Virgin Group spokesperson stated that while the application is an initial step, the company believes Open Access is the future of rail services. Open Access is seen as a way to increase consumer choice and competition, principles that Virgin has always supported. Virgin’s Objectives: Virgin Trains operated the West Coast Mainline service, which runs from London Euston through Birmingham and Manchester to Scotland, for 22 years before being disqualified from bidding for the franchise.
Since Avanti West Coast took over, there has been substantial public and political pressure due to their poor performance. Current Criticisms of Avanti: The ORR recently approved Grand Union Trains, an open access operator, to start new services from 2025 between London and Stirling, indicating growing support for such models. These operators run without government funding and are believed to offer more choices and better prices for passengers.
Stephanie To.
