Virgin Trains

  • West Coast looks forward with Avanti

    West Coast looks forward with Avanti

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    Words: Ben Jones NEW trains, more services and a better customer experience are the priorities for Avanti West Coast (AWC), which replaced Virgin Trains on December 8.  First-Trenitalia’s West Coast Partnership joint venture will operate the country’s busiest inter-city railway until March 31, 2031, during which time it will also become the shadow operator for…

  • Virgin Trains signs off in style with video featuring Mr Blobby

    Virgin Trains signs off in style with video featuring Mr Blobby

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    With the end of the Virgin Trains franchise taking place at 01:59am on December 8 after 22 years of running trains between London, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh, they’re going out with a bang!

  • ‘Plain Jane’ look for ‘Pendolino’

    ‘Plain Jane’ look for ‘Pendolino’

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    THE end of Virgin Train West Coast franchise is just two months away, and an on-going repaint programme has led to the release of the first unbranded Class 390 ‘Pendolino’ set.  The repaint work is part of the interim maintenance regime, which began in June 2017. Set No. 390137 was released from Alstom’s Technology Centre, at…

  • First and Trenitalia to run West Coast Main Line

    First and Trenitalia to run West Coast Main Line

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    By Tony Miles OPERATION of the West Coast Partnership (WCP) will be in the hands of First Group and Trenitalia from December 8, under what will be the first of a new franchise partnership model.  With a 70/30 partnership in favour of First, the pair will end Virgin Trains’ domination of the flagship route, which…

  • GWR gives ‘Castle’ names to its HST power cars… and revives Class 255 designation

    GWR gives ‘Castle’ names to its HST power cars… and revives Class 255 designation

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    GWR has unveiled a series of new cast nameplates with ‘Castle’ names that will be applied to its HST power cars.  The HST power cars are used on the shortened 2+4 formations, which run between Bristol and Penzance. The plates are of a new design and feature the outline of a 2+4 HST set as…

  • Nameplate auction takes Crewe charity event total to more than £70,000

    Nameplate auction takes Crewe charity event total to more than £70,000

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    Predicted wet and windy weather failed to deter visitors from attending the Crewe diesel depot open day on June 8.

  • New Virgin Trains app to help passengers when services are cancelled

    New Virgin Trains app to help passengers when services are cancelled

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    Virgin Trains claims the app will give customers and staff more accurate information when services are delayed and cancelled.

  • Fleet Focus: Britain’s new trains

    Fleet Focus: Britain’s new trains

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    Exciting times are ahead as the first trains of two new fleets entered service during April and May.

  • Class 390 ‘Pendolino’ No. 390039 named to mark Coventry as City of Culture 2021

    Class 390 ‘Pendolino’ No. 390039 named to mark Coventry as City of Culture 2021

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    The name was chosen following a competition on BBC Radio Coventry & Warwickshire.

  • Virgin Trains launch legal action against government over West Coast route

    Virgin Trains launch legal action against government over West Coast route

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    Virgin, Stagecoach and SNCF say that the Department for Transport breached its duties in barring them from tendering.

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