Overview | |
---|---|
Franchise(s) | InterCity West Coast 9 March 1997 -2019 [1] |
Main route(s) | London - Scotland London - North West London - West Midlands London - Chester |
Other route(s) | London - Holyhead London - Shrewsbury London - Wrexham London - Blackpool |
Fleet size | 56 Class 390 Pendolino sets 20 Class 221 Super Voyager sets |
Stations called at | 48 |
Stations operated | 17 |
National Rail abbreviation | VT |
Parent company | Virgin Rail Group Virgin Group (51%) Stagecoach (49%) |
Website | www |
Virgin Trains was a train operating company in the United Kingdom. They ran trains from London Euston to the North West, West Midlands and Scotland on the West Coast Main Line and trains on the East Coast Main Coast Mainline between London, Yorkshire, the North East and Scotland. Before 11 November 2007, they also run trains linking the south and south-west of England with the north of England through Manchester and Scotland, through Birmingham, under the CrossCountry franchise. Although it is branded as part of Virgin Group, Virgin's share in the company is only 51%, with the remaining 49% owned by Stagecoach. Virgin's share in Virgin Trains East Coast is only 10% with 90% being owned by Stagecoach, although the company is also branded under the Virgin name. The East Coast franchise was transferred to London North Eastern Railway in 2019, and the West Coast franchise to Avanti West Coast.