Virgin

Avanti West Coast 807001 awaits departure from Liverpool Lime Street on November 11 2024 with the 0901 to London Euston. AVANTI WEST COAST.

News

Avanti West Coast at risk of losing extra Liverpool paths after track access appeal

Appeal by Virgin over the way Network Rail handled track access situation is partially upheld.

Avanti West Coast 22 Jul

803002 working Lumo's 1S93 1045 Kings Cross to Edinburgh through Little Ponton in Lincolnshire on August 5 2022. PAUL CLARK

News

WCML open access decisions explained - DfT letter "not relevant"

Office of Rail and Road decision letter explains the factors that were and weren't relevant in its decision.

Office of Rail and Road 3 Jul

Off-lease 221104 passes Wellington as part of a driver training run between Central Rivers TMD and Wrexham. ALISTAIR COX.

News

All three West Coast Main Line open access bid rejected

Bids by FirstGroup, Virgin and Wrexham, Shropshire and Midlands Railway have all been turned down.

Open access 3 Jul

Two Eurostar e320s alongside each other at Temple Mills International Depot. DAVID STUBBINGS.

News

Thoughts starting to turn towards long-term international depot for Channel Tunnel services

Government looking into options after ORR sets out next steps of Temple Mills access process.

Channel Tunnel 17 Jun

Lumo 803 001 arrives at Newcastle Central forming the 1525 Edinburgh-King’s Cross on August 6 2022. Lumo is one of three open access operators on the East Coast Main Line. ANTONY GUPPY.

News

The 15 new open access routes currently being planned after FirstGroup submits Hereford Lumo bid

More than a dozen new routes are planned by open access operators.

Open access 9 Jun

Eurostar Class 374 units undergoing maintenance at Temple Mills. EUROSTAR.

News

Decision date for Eurostar rivals' depot requests set as ORR confirms next steps of process

Office of Rail and Road sets out what will happen and when before it decides if another operator can use Temple Mills depot alongside Eurostar.

Office of Rail and Road 5 Jun

News

Network Rail refuses to support three West Coast Main Line open access plans

Infrastructure owner highlights several issues with all three with capacity being a key area of concern.

West Coast Main Line 13 May

News

Eurostar "not blocking access" after report says capacity exists at Temple Mills

Operator says its stance is ensuring rivals' train modifications are feasible and align with network requirements".

Eurostar 17 Apr

Eurostar trains at the Eurostar Engineering Centre maintenance depot in Temple Mills, London. ALAMY.

News

5 key takeaways from the Temple Mills capacity report as both sides claim it supports their view

The ORR-commissioned study has found there is some capacity at Eurostar's depot.

Office of Rail and Road 1 Apr

Two Virgin Pendolinos pass each other on the West Coast Main Line near Rugby. ALAMY.

News

Virgin scales back West Coast Main Line open access plan

Operator reduces number of planned services and removes one destination from its application.

Virgin 1 Apr

News

"Some capacity can be found" at Eurostar's Temple Mills depot, report finds

Eagerly anticipated report into depot comes as three operators look to challenge Eurostar.

Eurostar 31 Mar

Eurostar train stands at St Pancras. ALAMY.

News

Eurostar and rivals all claim Temple Mills capacity report supports their arguments

Three rival firms want to take on Eurostar and run cross-channel services.

Eurostar 31 Mar

Virgin Trains 390104 at London Euston prior to working the 2300 to Manchester Piccadilly on September 4. RICHARD CLINNICK.

News

Virgin appeals to overturn Network Rail's Liverpool path decision for Avanti

Virgin says Network Rail shouldn't have given Avanti West Coast permission to start running in long-disused paths.

Virgin 21 Mar

News

Office of Rail and Road tells Eurostar who will make Temple Mills capacity decision

Operator had suggested regulator's process was not suitable for deciding if a second operator could use the HS1 depot.

Office of Rail and Road 14 Mar

Grand Central's 180104 speeds through South Otterington (near Northallerton) on September 12 2024 with the 0853 Sunderland to London King’s Cross. ALEX AYRE.

News

Open access operators hit back at DfT's opposition to track access bids

Operators 'unsurprised' after Department for Transport opposes eight out of nine open access applications.

Open access 20 Feb

forms the 1252 Brussels Midi - London St. Pancras International service passes Dollands Moor Yard at Saltwood Junction on 14 February. The South Eastern main line from Folkestone curves in alongside. ANTONY GUPPY.

News

Report on Temple Mills depot space due with ORR soon as operators press case to rival Eurostar

An external consultant has been appointed by the Office of Rail and Road to examine the depot.

HS1 5 Feb

News

Office of Rail and Road inundated with more than 80 track applications

The ORR is shifting through more than 80 track applications after putting out a call for bids earlier this year

Office of Rail and Road 2 Dec

Two Eurostar services at London St Pancras station

News

ORR working with Channel Tunnel hopefuls as they try to secure depot space and challenge Eurostar

Two operators, Evolyn and Virgin, want to start their own passenger services through the Channel Tunnel and challenge Eurostar

Channel Tunnel 28 Nov

Services will continue on towards Manchester Victoria after passing through Crewe. JACK BOSKETT.

News

Virgin considers bidding for Spanish operations

Virgin calls UK rail "uninvestable" as it eyes Spanish rail market, but union calls comments "shallow"

10 Jul

News

Virgin proposes London-Liverpool open access service

Virgin Trains applies to run open access services on West Coast Main Line from 2021

11 Jun

Virgin

Avanti West Coast at risk of losing extra Liverpool paths after track access appeal

WCML open access decisions explained - DfT letter "not relevant"

All three West Coast Main Line open access bid rejected

Thoughts starting to turn towards long-term international depot for Channel Tunnel services

The 15 new open access routes currently being planned after FirstGroup submits Hereford Lumo bid

Decision date for Eurostar rivals' depot requests set as ORR confirms next steps of process

Network Rail refuses to support three West Coast Main Line open access plans

Eurostar "not blocking access" after report says capacity exists at Temple Mills

5 key takeaways from the Temple Mills capacity report as both sides claim it supports their view

Virgin scales back West Coast Main Line open access plan

"Some capacity can be found" at Eurostar's Temple Mills depot, report finds

Eurostar and rivals all claim Temple Mills capacity report supports their arguments

Virgin appeals to overturn Network Rail's Liverpool path decision for Avanti

Office of Rail and Road tells Eurostar who will make Temple Mills capacity decision

Open access operators hit back at DfT's opposition to track access bids

Report on Temple Mills depot space due with ORR soon as operators press case to rival Eurostar

Office of Rail and Road inundated with more than 80 track applications

ORR working with Channel Tunnel hopefuls as they try to secure depot space and challenge Eurostar

Virgin considers bidding for Spanish operations

Virgin proposes London-Liverpool open access service

Most read

No takers so first DB Cargo UK Class 67 goes for scrap

FirstGroup explains why Class 222s were "only option" for Lumo Euston-Stirling service

Scottish main line will "end up with discontinuous electrification"

Virgin

Avanti West Coast at risk of losing extra Liverpool paths after track access appeal

WCML open access decisions explained - DfT letter "not relevant"

All three West Coast Main Line open access bid rejected

Thoughts starting to turn towards long-term international depot for Channel Tunnel services

The 15 new open access routes currently being planned after FirstGroup submits Hereford Lumo bid

Decision date for Eurostar rivals' depot requests set as ORR confirms next steps of process

Network Rail refuses to support three West Coast Main Line open access plans

Eurostar "not blocking access" after report says capacity exists at Temple Mills

5 key takeaways from the Temple Mills capacity report as both sides claim it supports their view

Virgin scales back West Coast Main Line open access plan

"Some capacity can be found" at Eurostar's Temple Mills depot, report finds

Eurostar and rivals all claim Temple Mills capacity report supports their arguments

Virgin appeals to overturn Network Rail's Liverpool path decision for Avanti

Office of Rail and Road tells Eurostar who will make Temple Mills capacity decision

Open access operators hit back at DfT's opposition to track access bids

Report on Temple Mills depot space due with ORR soon as operators press case to rival Eurostar

Office of Rail and Road inundated with more than 80 track applications

ORR working with Channel Tunnel hopefuls as they try to secure depot space and challenge Eurostar

Virgin considers bidding for Spanish operations

Virgin proposes London-Liverpool open access service

Most read

No takers so first DB Cargo UK Class 67 goes for scrap

FirstGroup explains why Class 222s were "only option" for Lumo Euston-Stirling service

Scottish main line will "end up with discontinuous electrification"

16 DB Cargo UK drivers switching to rival

DB Cargo sells three more Class 90s for reuse

Further MML electrification and York capacity projects paused

UK "fails to provide trains people want or like"

All three West Coast Main Line open access bid rejected

Drivers' jobs safe after refinery owners enter administration