European Railroad Discussion > Virgin takes over East Coast

As of today the East Coast Inter City franchise has been transferred from Directly Operated Railways (the state undertaking which took it on after the collapse of National Express East Coast) to Virgin Trains East Coast. this is the first train, the 07:55 Newcastle to King's Cross, passing Alexandra Palace at 11:37, some 20 minutes EARLY. The HST power car has red Virgin flashes

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Nice view near the Ally Pally. Wonder if we'll see any livery changes?

The BBC reported that, despite the branding as Virgin, the franchise ownership is split: Stagecoach 90% and Virgin 10%. When Directly Operated Railways took over from National Express, they upgraded first class in the style of Virgin by offering complimentary drinks and meals and snacks.

Thumper Wrote:
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> Wonder if we'll
> see any livery changes?

Apparently tomorrow, on the 11:00 King's Cross to Edinburgh - one 91 and a Mk4 set has been turned out in the new livery

I guess this could mean the end of the last GNER liveried Class 91, 91118. East Coast had a good service. I hope the new version does as well.

Jim

Here we go again on the lunatic political merry go round called Railway Privatisation, which it isn't. New liveries? don't be under any illusions Virgin won't be able to wait to apply their latest paint job, (refer to 86235's comments). I expect paint manufacturers to be producing additional stocks of paint in this regard. We will see if the Stagecoach/Virgin franchise can deliver the £3.3bn that it says it will pay back to the government over the period of its eight year franchise. The previous two incumbents who spectacularly failed and "handed the keys back" for different reasons could not deliver what they said they would. So only time will tell. This will be one franchise to keep a close eye on.
Keith G, London, UK

CIT1023 Wrote:
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> Here we go again on the lunatic political merry go
> round called Railway Privatisation, which it
> isn't.

Yes, talk about the Law of Unintended Consequences. Rail privatisation has delivered almost completely the opposite to what was intended. The Conservative Govt of the mid 1990s embarked on it to a.) get the railways off the government's agenda - result; railways have a higher political profile than ever and b.) reduce the cost to the taxpayer - result; the railways receive many times more money than they ever did in the days of British Rail.

In some ways we should be grateful, railways do have a much higher profile than they did - the consequence of which is that we see politicians of all shades talking them up, and spending money - Thameslink, Crossrail, NW England electrification, GW electrification, High Speed 2 - all these (with the exception of HS2) are actually underway now. It is quite extraordinary.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/02/15 03:16 by 86235.