Virgin Trains plans to return to West Coast Main Line

Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Trains lost its West Coast Main Line franchise in 2019. Photo: PAUL ELLIS/AFP

Virgin Trains has set its sights on the West Coast in a bid to return to British rail five years after Sir Richard Branson lost the franchise.

Virgin Group, owned by a British billionaire , has submitted an open access application to HMRC for a work permit. separate trains between London and Glasgow.

The proposals come after Virgin Trains lost its franchise on the West Coast main line in 2019 and was disqualified by ministers from bidding for the lucrative contract due to failure to comply with pension rules provision and financing.

It represents a direct challenge to Avanti West Coast, increasing pressure on the troubled train operator, which has been widely criticized for poor service levels and persistent delays and cancellations since replacing Virgin.

Virgin Group, which operated West Coast . The 22-year-old Coast Line said customers would welcome its return and that the company could provide them with «much-needed choice and competition.»

Avanti West Coast has been criticized for poor service and persistent delays since taking over from Virgin. Credit: Nathan Stirk/Getty Images

A Virgin Group spokesman said: “While this app is just the first step in exploring what might be possible, we believe open access is the way forward.

< p>«Open access increases consumer choice and competition, both of which Virgin has always supported.»

Open access licenses allow train operators to operate services independently of the main franchise operators who have contracts with the government to provide services on railway lines.

Open access operators take on more risk and do not receive any government subsidies, but may apply for train services from the Road and Rail Transport Authority in direct competition with the main operator.

It's clear. Virgin Group is now looking to run 10-carriage trains between London Euston and Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow.

Virgin also wants to cut Avanti fares and automatically refund customers if their train is delayed or cancelled. as first reported by The Sunday Times.

A Virgin Group spokesman said: “Virgin Trains has operated on the West Coast for 20 years. , they have significantly reduced travel times, tripled services on key routes and provided exceptional levels of customer service, while increasing passenger numbers from eight million to 42 million per year.»

When reviewing open access applications Roads and Transport Authority The railway company is considering whether granting a license will promote competition to the benefit of railway users.

This includes weighing the potential benefits of increased competition, such as a reduction in the number of fairs and innovations, at a cost to current train operators.< /p>

It comes after the Department for Transport extended the Avanti West Coast contract for up to nine years last September, resisting calls to nationalize the railway line.

An Avanti West Coast spokesman said: «We have a competitive offer on all our routes, but we always welcome the opportunity to increase choice, which will benefit rail customers.»