Virgin Group applies to operate trains on West Coast Main Line

Virgin Group, led by Sir Richard Branson, wants to run trains on the West Coast rail route in the UK. They have applied for permission to operate separate train services between London and Glasgow. This move challenges Avanti West Coast, the current operator, which has faced criticism for poor service and delays since taking over from Virgin Trains. Open access applications like Virgin's allow train companies to run services independently from the main operators. This can increase competition and give customers more choices. Virgin aims to run 10-carriage trains to major cities like Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, and Glasgow. They plan to offer lower fares and automatic refunds for delays or cancellations. The Office of Rail and Road will decide if granting Virgin a license will benefit rail users by promoting competition. Avanti West Coast, operated by FirstGroup, has a contract renewed by the Department of Transport. Virgin's proposal is seen as a challenge to Avanti, as it aims to provide more options for customers and increase competition on the railways. Virgin Group believes that their return to the West Coast route will benefit customers by offering more choices and better services. They have a history of improving journey times and customer experience during their previous operation on the route. The government encourages more competition in the rail industry, but some industry leaders and unions have concerns about the efficiency of open access operators.