Virgin West Coast
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"Virgin Trains - Love every second"
Virgin Trains have operated the Intercity West Coast franchise since 9 March 1997.
Virgin West Coast run services from London Euston to Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Manchester, Liverpool, Holyhead, Preston, Carlisle, Glasgow Central.
Virgin re-introduced a daily train between Edinburgh and Euston from 27 September 2004.
Virgin's 15 year franchise plan was based on the West Coast Route Modernisation delivering a 140mph railway from London to Crewe and Manchester by 2005. However this further upgrade has been postponed and trains now run at a maximum speed of 125mph.
Virgin West Coast uses the Virgin Trains brand.
The fleet Virgin inherited a fleet from British Rail which consisited of push-pull trains formed of Mk2 and Mk3 coaches, and Class 86, Class 87, and Class 90 electric locomotives.
This fleet was completely replaced by 53 new Class 390 "Pendolino" trains.
The Class 390's started running between Glasgow and London on January 5, 2004.
125mph tilting operation in Scotland began at the December 2005 timetable change.
Maintenance of the trains has been contracted to Alstom subsiduary West Coast Traincare, since early 1999.
The Class 390's home depot is Longsight, Manchester, but they are also serviced at West Coast Traincare's depot at Polmadie.
Virgin West Coast also lease a number of Class 57 locomotives, for use as Thunderbirds, and for hauling trains over unelectrified diversionary routes such as Glasgow - Carlisle via Kilmarnock.
External Links:
Virgin Trains have operated the Intercity West Coast franchise since 9 March 1997.
Virgin West Coast run services from London Euston to Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Manchester, Liverpool, Holyhead, Preston, Carlisle, Glasgow Central.
Virgin re-introduced a daily train between Edinburgh and Euston from 27 September 2004.
Virgin's 15 year franchise plan was based on the West Coast Route Modernisation delivering a 140mph railway from London to Crewe and Manchester by 2005. However this further upgrade has been postponed and trains now run at a maximum speed of 125mph.
Virgin West Coast uses the Virgin Trains brand.
Rolling Stock
The fleet Virgin inherited a fleet from British Rail which consisited of push-pull trains formed of Mk2 and Mk3 coaches, and Class 86, Class 87, and Class 90 electric locomotives.
This fleet was completely replaced by 53 new Class 390 "Pendolino" trains.
Virgin West Coast Pendolino on the WCML Photo by Ewan Tait
The Class 390's started running between Glasgow and London on January 5, 2004.
125mph tilting operation in Scotland began at the December 2005 timetable change.
Maintenance of the trains has been contracted to Alstom subsiduary West Coast Traincare, since early 1999.
The Class 390's home depot is Longsight, Manchester, but they are also serviced at West Coast Traincare's depot at Polmadie.
Virgin West Coast also lease a number of Class 57 locomotives, for use as Thunderbirds, and for hauling trains over unelectrified diversionary routes such as Glasgow - Carlisle via Kilmarnock.
External Links: