Virgin Trains to disappear as West Coast Main Line is taken over by new franchise First Trenitalia First Trenitalia will run services on the line from December

Virgin Trains will no longer run the West Coast Main Line from December this year with First Trenitalia taking over operations, the Department for Transport has announced.

A joint partnership between Aberdeen-based firm First Group and Trenitalia UK, a subsidiary ultimately owned by the Italian government, has been awarded the West Coast Partnership (WCP) contract to take on the franchise. Together the companies will run the service as a 70-30 venture, starting from 8 December.

The contract also includes responsibility for running the first HS2 trains from 2026, but the DfT said the Government will “shortly launch a review” into the new high-speed railway, a move widely expected after Boris Johnson became Prime Minister. The government department added the WCP has been designed to ensure it can “implement the review’s outcomes”.

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The decision to award it the WCP means another franchise will switch from being wholly controlled by British companies to a part foreign state-run operation.

Trenitalia currently runs trains on the c2c line between east London and Shoeburyness in Essex.



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Under the terms of the new agreement, First Trenitalia will operate 263 additional weekly services every week from December 2022.

First Trenitalia said it would run 56 refurbished Pendolino trains when it takes charge of the line, replacing its diesel-powered Voyager fleet with a more environmentally friendly model.

Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, will become a “major calling point”, while destinations such as Llandudno in North Wales and Gobowen in Shropshire will be served by direct trains to and from London. Walsall will receive its first direct intercity services.

The number of direct services between London and Liverpool will be doubled to two per hour, subject to approval from the Office of Rail and Road.

A ‘cleaner, greener railway’

Twenty-three new trains will be used for the extra services to the North West, while the existing Pendolino fleet will be given a £117 million refurbishment, including new seats, additional luggage space and improved toilet facilities.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “This award is positive news for passengers, with more services, more direct connections and ambitious plans for a cleaner, greener railway, and also represents a decisive shift towards a new model for rail.

“It is a partnership supported by Keith Williams (chairman of the independent rail review), built with the flexibility to respond to his recommendations and deliver fundamental reform to a flawed system.

“Meeting Keith last week confirmed our shared determination to deliver a future that puts passengers at the heart of the railways, and get our trains to run on time.

“That is why I have asked Keith to produce his recommendations for a white paper, with fearless proposals that will deliver a railway system fit for the 21st century.”

Shadow transport secretary Andy McDonald claimed giving the contract to FirstGroup is a “gross error of judgment” following the DfT’s decision last week to scrap the South Eastern franchise competition after admitting it would not deliver enough benefits for taxpayers or passengers.

Virgin Trains to effectively disappear

Virgin Trains, a partnership between Virgin Group and Stagecoach, has run services on the West Coast line since March 1997.



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The companies are suing the DfT over its decision to disqualify their WCP bid due to a row over pensions.

A spokesperson for the company said: “Virgin Trains has led the industry for 22 years, delivering faster journeys to more destinations, harnessing new technology and always putting the customer first.

“We’ll now work with First Trenitalia to ensure a seamless handover for customers, who should still book and travel as normal.”

Sir Richard Branson said previously that he was “devastated” by the decision, and added: “This means that Virgin Trains could be gone from the UK in November.

“I am devastated for the teams who have worked tirelessly to make Virgin Trains one of the best train companies in the UK, if not the world.

“Virgin Trains has led in the industry for more than 20 years and we wanted this to continue for many more years.”

Additional reporting from PA