Richard Branson's Virgin Group is planning a return to rail in Britain, proposing up to four new services on the West Coast main line, which it previously operated.
Virgin has submitted proposals to run separate train services between London Euston and Manchester and Liverpool, Birmingham and Glasgow Central on an open access basis. The move directly challenges Avanti West Coast, which is run by former Virgin rival FirstGroup. Two of the proposed Virgin services would use train routes currently maintained by Avanti, while the Manchester route would also extend to Rochdale, a destination FirstGroup intends to offer with its Lumo brand.
Government policies have encouraged more open-access rail services such as Lumo and Grand Central to enhance competition with mainline operators. However, these proposals are controversial within the rail industry, with leaders viewing them as ineffective, and the RMT union describing them as “parasitic”.
A Virgin Group spokesperson confirmed that applications had been submitted to the Office of Rail and Road, describing it as “just the first step towards exploring what might be possible”. They highlighted Virgin Trains' legacy on the West Coast, pointing to significant reductions in journey times, a tripling of major route services, and a rise in passenger numbers from 8 million to 42 million annually during its 20-year service life.
The spokesperson added: “We are confident that customers will welcome the return of Virgin Trains, providing them with the choice and competition they desperately need.”
The bid represents a direct challenge to the troubled Avanti West Coast service and could reignite an old rivalry with FirstGroup. In 2012, FirstGroup briefly won the rights to Virgin Trains' lucrative London-Manchester-Glasgow line, prompting Branson and partner Stagecoach to launch legal action, although they were eventually banned from bidding again in 2019, when it took over FirstGroup control.
Virgin's potential return promises to shake up the UK rail market, offering passengers more choice and potentially improving service standards through increased competition.