Virgin contracted extended until 2017

[whole diary]

[bobm]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page)

Virgin will continue to operate West Coast Main Line train services to Glasgow with a pledge to raise capacity, the government has said.

The contract has been awarded for a further two years and nine months.

It comes two years after Virgin challenged a government decision to award the rail franchise to First Group.

Virgin will invest a further ^35m to update trains and provide an extra 5,500 standard-class seats each day.

Virgin will also invest more than ^20m to modernise stations and improve waiting rooms, seats and shelters.

The train operator will now also "start work to secure new direct services between Shrewsbury, Blackpool and London from December," the Department of Transport (DfT^» (Department for Transport - about)) said.

At the start of the year, Virgin scrapped a plan to provide direct services to Shrewsbury from London.

Virgin had planned to start the service in May, but said proposed time slots were not "economically viable".

In order to provide the additional standard-class seats, Virgin is converting 21 first-class carriages to standard class,

Free wi-fi will be offered at stations and improved coverage provided across the entire fleet.

Virgin will also invest ^2.5m to improve the interiors of its Pendolino trains and ^2.75m on improving catering facilities.

The train operator will pay more than ^430m to run the franchise.

Legal challenge
 
Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: "This deal will provide thousands more seats and better journeys for the tens of thousands of passengers who use these services every day.

"The West Coast provides a vital artery between London and Scotland and it is crucial we do everything we can to improve services on this much-used route."

The franchise award comes two years after Virgin launched a legal challenge to the decision by the DfT to award a 13-year franchise for the West Coast Main Line to First Group.

The government eventually scrapped the award claiming there were "significant technical flaws" in the bidding process because of mistakes by DfT staff. Three civil servants were suspended.

[eightf48544]

So Virgin  are going to pay ^430m to run the franchise and invest ^60.25 million (^35 for 5000 seats, ^20 on stations, ^2.5 on Pendilinos and ^2.75 on catering). Plus run direct service from Shrewsbury and Blackpool from December

For 2 years nine months!

[ChrisB]

Includes free wifi in Standard (presimably from inception on 22 June as its just a matter of turning the payment screen off?) according to a note from Mr Branson

[Timmer]

It was such a shame that Dft did not take up the option to extend the entire Pendolino fleet to 11 coaches a few years back leaving a fleet of 21 9 coach sets on a network that is almost at full stretch. Converting one of the FC^‡(resolve) coaches to Std is yet another short term solution.

[Southern Stag]

Includes free wifi in Standard (presimably from inception on 22 June as its just a matter of turning the payment screen off?) according to a note from Mr Branson

There is also an upgrade to the WiFi system to allow much faster speeds. It isn't clear whether the WiFi will only become free after the upgrade, or whether it will be free immediately. It seems the funding is for the new WiFi and allows for free access for all, but access to the current system may still be chargeable in Standard Class until the upgrade is complete.

[ChrisB]

It'd be a tad mean to continue to charge when your blagging/blogging about it being free. I think they may make the move beforehand as its easy to do

[Rhydgaled]

Any news on VT^▸ (Virgin Trains - former franchises)'s plan to replace the Voyagers with 6-car draggable EMUs^▸ (Electric Multiple Unit)?

[Timmer]

Any news on VT^▸ (Virgin Trains - former franchises)'s plan to replace the Voyagers with 6-car draggable EMUs^▸ (Electric Multiple Unit)?

Nope, they will come in the new franchise from 2017. No new trains in this agreement between Dft and Virgin.