The Virgin Trains Story (2007-2019)

Virgin Trains was an iconic rail operator, and their last decade was just as exciting as their first. So, join me (and Louis!) as we explore the history of this most interesting of companies.
Discord: / discord
Credits:
Photography:
Oxyman, ditjebali azzabi, Steven Crozier, Lawrence Clift, ArtVandelay13, Gerryfosterraz, Virgin Trains East Coast, Richard Townshend and Hitachi Rail, CC BY-SA 3.0 creativecommons..., via Wikimedia Commons
Geof Sheppard, Didier Duforest, PeterSkuce, The ganymedian, Martin arrand 1965, Causton, JakeWilliams1998, Chris McKenna (Thryduulf) and Snazzyskips, CC BY-SA 4.0 creativecommon..., via Wikimedia Commons
Martin Bodman
lee bristol, Aubrey Morandarte, Hugh Llewelyn, Sludge G, CC BY-SA 2.0 creativecommon..., via Wikimedia Commons
Birmingham Live
Rail Accident Investigation Branch
El Pollock
BBC News
Seat 61
Stephen Craven
Spsmiler, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Alex Belfield
GO media
™/®Société nationale des chemins de fer français, designed by Carré Noir Agency, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Hull Live
FirstGroup, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Music:
Dover - The Westerlies

[@alfiemeadows3541]

Speaking to an Avanti staff member on the shop. Says they miss Virgin and Avanti doesn’t care about staff or their suggestions etc only want to provide the bare minimum… good video love it

[@charliemcdornell]

ball

[@Jarredino]

First being first innit Same BS in TPE as well

[@sandletters39]

Virgin was under Stagecoach control, and there have been some reactions over their reign in the franchise.

[@manomaylr]

Was it the same person that I spoke to a few months ago on the Pendolino back from Wolverhampton?! She too said Virgin treated them better.

[@manomaylr]

WorstGroup indeed.

[@kaitlyn__L]

Yep, Virgin were the only ones who seemed to really care about fulfilling the stated aims of rail privatisation. Wish they’d gotten their full-speed Pendolino operation, and the ECML upgrades (funded from pre-crash credit I presume) sound really impressive. That would’ve been a great dividend to the rail network. Everyone else (Arriva, Abelio, First, etc) just did the bare minimum. And you can’t really blame them either, given a lot of them are subsidiaries of other nationalised operators who’d rather use those profits to improve services back home.

[@purplebrick131]

That last one is an interesting point to me. In germany currently there are major talks about restructuring DB (in some quite stupid ways and some quite useful ways). But a big ish talking point has been thag they let their home services slack and instead focus too much on international expansion

[@colin.d]

I couldn't believe the folly in replacing the WCML franchise as they did. Virgin weren't perfect but a heck of a lot better than the current disaster.

[@Lee_303]

It was more about punishing stagecoach over their pensions handling. But a corrupt government punishing them.

[@sandletters39]

Even First Group isn't really necessarily better. I often wonder.

[@neilburns8869]

One of most baffling decisions ever made to take the WCML franchise off Virgin and not one well-received by many train users. I personally also miss the XC service that as you pointed out used to be in Virgin's hands. I think the biggest plus point about Sir Richard Branson and his Virgin Trains was that they cared.

[@lzh4950]

I also remember Branson got dissed by 1 of my country's ministers because he was appealing against capital punishment for a drug mule, but the minister argued he didn't have a right to do so as the UK had also started the Opium War

[@spongebot64]

Funnily enough, I too travelled on during the changeover - this was to Manchester just to see friends. It felt surreal seeing the goodbye messages here and there, especially seeing one on the side of a Pendolino destination board. The next day? Just a name change, but the fun had yet to begin. At least I'm at the mercy of SWR instead of Avanti these days...

[@GWVillager]

SWR also seems to be a step down from SWT, First seem to curse everything they touch…

[@isaactimmins8959]

​@@GWVillager I dunno Lumo & Hull Trains seem to be doing OK now, although open acsess is a more difficult one. Passing the 180s to EMR is probably a blessing in disguise.

[@Mgameing123]

@@isaactimmins8959 Open access operators are mostly competeting with the franchised operators so therefore First is forced to actually go all in.

[@stevenjames3455]

Thank you for this video! I’m just a little too young to remember exactly what Virgin Trains was like, though I have vague memories, and I thoroughly enjoy seeing all the not-so-hidden Virgin easter eggs at stations and on trains. This video made me feel like I was there, and brought back the vague feeling of Virgin having a revolutionary presence and loyalty. Thanks again :)

[@neilburns8869]

I remember the newspaper tribute from the well-respected travel consultant Simon Calder and what he said was that Virgin had shown everyone else just how a train service should be operated.

[@fastdamo]

Spot on for the comment about trolley service vs buffet bar, GWR are great when they have enough staff to run trains and the trolley service, but that is rare. The problem with all the franchise system was the government has forgotten that public transport is a public service and will never turn a profit. Subsudies will always be required and the old saying you get what you pay for is so true for transport, we the paying public are the ones paying for a substandard service. My old boss said never accept the lowest bid for a contract as they will always under deliver or completly fail to deliver.

[@lzh4950]

Meanwhile my country reportedly chose the lowest bidder for 83% of land transport construction contracts, maybe as it's easier to justify given that the gov't can be more hawkish when it comes to saving money* but some contracts have run into problems e.g. contractor going bankrupt, train tunnels leaking water only a year after construction. * Our education ministry once got rapped by our public prosecutor's annual gov't audit, for not choosing the lowest bidder when handing out contracts for cleaning services, but choosing the lowest bidder has been blamed for contributing to wage stagnation among cleaners

[@louisp52]

Great video, I love the voice over at the end

[@j2m3_raiden5]

Ur a raging racist

[@charliemcdornell]

i do not he sucks

[@charliemcdornell]

ball

[@Snivy_Films]

While I haven't rode any UK trains, as I'm in the United States, my parents has back in the late 90s and early 2000's (97-02) before I was born, when my parents got married, they, along with family on both sides rode up and down the UK Railway network, visiting landmarks and places they wanted to see. They traveled on Virgin Trains, Midland Mainline, and GNER for intercity high-speed travel. I asked them which one did they like the most and all of them said Virgin Trains, the comfort, and the care that VT staff had over MM and GNER was clear as day. My aunt also found one of the train destination cards from a trip from London to Wolverhampton. (VTWC 124 if anyone is wondering)

[@GWVillager]

Interesting, that time would have still been using the old loco hauled stock.

[@Snivy_Films]

@@GWVillager for sure, my dad talked about how they needed to open the window and reach for the handle outside. Something that isnt really heard of here in the US even on the older coaches (the reaching out a window to open the door), if I had to guess it was a Mk2 coach due to the relitive short distance, but I dont think I will ever get a definitive answer as it was at least 20 years ago.

[@GWVillager]

@@Snivy_Films VTWC 124 would have been Mk3s most likely, probably with a Class 90 or 87 hauling. Slam doors were common in the UK right up to 2019, with the withdrawal of the HST stock, and the refurbishment of any remaining sets. However, there is still one regular slam door service, the Mk3 operated Night Riviera sleeper from London Paddington to Penzance, run by GWR. It's quite a service, very luxurious despite the old trains.

[@TrainsWithRhys]

Amazing video! You make great content and todays upload is no exception, thanks for this amazing knowing more about virgin trains

[@jameswillan6635]

I too travelled on the last day that Virgin trains operated (Penrith to Birmingham and back). I've kept my free chocolate as a memento.

[@GWVillager]

Ha yes! A chocolate coin with "Proudly serving you for 22 years" on I believe. I ate mine, but kept the foil.

[@Spacebug111]

VT is so nostalgic to me, they did so much better then first group (should be called last-choice group)

[@Lee_303]

Yes, the early days of the Pendolino. Some didn't like the claustrophobic interior or the red colour scheme but I loved it. The Avanti refurbs are way more claustrophobic imo. And the corporate red scheme was more down to Chris Green, the same man who revolutionised local travel out of London with Network SouthEast. I honestly think Stagecoach / Virgin should've kept the franchise, I mean having a corrupt government pulling the plug on them (over pensions) seems a bit hypocritical to me.

[@kaitlyn__L]

First Group’s operations in the USA are shonky too. (As I found out when I visited there for a few months.) They’re all about the bare minimum!

[@mrantcor1981]

Best train operator ever is Virgin Trains, no one compares to them and no one ever will

[@oldtechnobodycaresabout]

You could say they lost their virginity

[@manomaylr]

Lose their virginity to Avanti though?! Brilliant choice, DfT.

[@rudranshbais4017]

Why did Virgin leave us will they appear in the next bidding?

[@rapideyephotography9782]

Great job with this 2 part story. Thanks.

[@thomasfy4]

You have a real voice over voice - jealous, I sound like a crying cat

[@ballzfansixtynin215]

im not even from the uk nor live in it yet this makes me respect virgin trains a lot and quite sad as well

[@manomaylr]

Of course WorstGroup has to come in whenever they can. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that they get so many rail franchises in the UK and there was so much reluctance to strip TPE of its contract.

[@Mgameing123]

Cheap ain't always better!

[@lzh4950]

I guess VTEC did not kick in

[@ConfusedOxygen]

thanks for the comments mayo

[@HamishG199]

Avanti are my local trains sadly . Every train is delayed all or cancelled they aren’t like Virgin I’m just DISAPPOINTED and ASHAMED with Avanti and I know it sounds harsh but I wish Avanti loose the contract as SOON as possible just hate them

[@maimadha]

Nice story of Virgin Trains

[@BernardSo801]

The fact that virgin trains was competing with itself is amazing 😂

[@Finley_Stuff]

Could you maybe do one of these again but for FGW?

[@thetrainspotter43]

Fantastic

[@NATO4623]

Hello I am a new fan of yours

[@GWVillager]

Hello, glad you enjoy.

[@DIEMLtdTV]

First stripped the franchise down to the minimum, then the pandemic, then after a rap on the knuckles from the DfT, have tried to kind of recreate the VTWC offering onboard.

[@smudgycat6750]

First probably won because their love of 80*, 800s, 802s, 803s, 805s, 807s, all being under their control, maybe thats why they have everything

[@mattevans4377]

I think Arriva deserve a little slack. They couldn't increase capacity even uf they want to, unless the old ball and chain....I mean, the DFT, allowed them to, and they are too busy stuffing their pockets....I mean, balancing the books, to hand over the money for more rolling stock.

[@GWVillager]

If they had taken control just before the pandemic, and were thus restricted by the DfT's meddling... I mean assistance, I would be inclined to agree. However, they took over the franchise over a decade before the DfT began forcing every action upon operators, and still failed to even properly acknowledge the overcrowding problem. To make matters worse, they have hardly reliveried and haven't refurbished their trains, which are now extremely tatty, and operate an ethically dubious fares policy in which the price is basically inversely proportional to how much you know about the system, what with split ticketing and so on. They know exactly what they're doing, and it benefits them at the expense of the passenger, so I'm less sympathetic.

[@trainhub2450]

Do this but for London midland

[@Andrewjg_89]

I did like Virgin Trains. But I didn’t like Virgin Trains East Coast. VTEC I think was voted the worst train operator on the East Coast Main Line. Before it was replaced by LNER (London North Eastern Railway).

[@DanielDoherty-io7mi]

Ive heard First Capital Connect was really bad

[@Mgameing123]

@@DanielDoherty-io7mi Thats the predecessor to Thameslink!

[@kaitlyn__L]

Yeah, I preferred East Coast massively over VTEC. Whenever I had a route East Coast might run on I would even wait up to half an hour longer at my connections in the hopes of getting one of their HSTs rather than some overcrowded little multiple unit or whatever else was on offer.

[@kyle07871323519]

My partner works for Virgin Atlantic and we used to get discount on Virgin trains ton London through a Virgin group staff discount I’m guessing the train staff at the time could of make use of this too It’s a shame. Virgin was brilliant as a train company Wish they would come back I hope the DFT will give it back after removing Avanti from the WCML

[@kriss_b]

I know for sure that the ticket office you show in the final days of virgin is Wigan north western my home station, please confirm or strike me down sir. Wonderful video as always P.s I hope you get your mic fixed soon

[@GWVillager]

Thank you! That station was indeed Wigan North Western, I’ve not been back since though so I’m not sure what it’s like now.

[@kriss_b]

@@GWVillager it's pretty much the same just has new ticket machines, and it's still plastered in red as per avantis lack of investment

[@manomaylr]

1:15 make the service terrible… the DfT liked that. Don’t know whether to laugh or cry at our governments priorities

[@sandletters39]

It was under Stagecoach control, I think. The replacement trains were based on Branson's spaceship follies.

[@Lee_303]

Think it was meant to be more like air travel. When the AT300's come in it will be a backward step. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Pendolino shoved over to HS2 when built, well maybe temporarily, going by how long it takes to get new trains nowadays & the spiralling cost. When HS2 is running the WCML service would be downgraded slightly anyway, let's hope the fares reflect this but I suspect it will be helping to fund the other.

[@swtransport099]

Never in my life at Farnham have I seen a service from Farnham to London! (They do run but start from Alton, never Farnham)

[@ulysseskruger6095]

I’ve seen the crashed pendolino in real life. All it has is a few scratches on it.

[@eyybabyj1397]

Problem is all the profit goes back to the shareholders that live in different countries. They don't care about our rail system and thank god the new Labour government plans to renationalize the rail service.

[@thebackyard7661]

the question is, where are the chad trains?

[@GWVillager]

Good question. Perhaps the Republic of Chad itself once their first railway finally opens?

[@Sebi1963]

Could u please do an episode like this but dedicated to first great western from 1994 to 2023😢

[@minecraftertag]

Is there a possibility that virgin trains will make a comeback or no?

[@GWVillager]

It's unlikely within Britain. Virgin *have* expressed interest in running a competitor to Eurostar through the Channel Tunnel, but this is certainly not guaranteed yet.

[@minecraftertag]

@@GWVillager ok 🙂

[@ChineseJohnCena]

Virgin trains was better but Avanti west coast isn’t that bad

[@Mgameing123]

Are you on drugs?

[@Itzviiola]

That’s coz it’s still the same staff but with more shit to shovel

[@regulate.artificer_g23.mdctlsk]

The virgin Pendolino vs. the chad Javelin

[@samhardingham5591]

Everything seems to go terribly whenever I see first group is involved

[@TransportWithDee]

First Group get away with everything 😳

[@mattevans4377]

That's what happens when you stuff government bank accounts....

[@nightw4tchman]

My experiences with Virgin were usually not great. More expensive than East Coast when I could use either and their bike policy was woeful.

[@Matthewscrimbly]

Thank you I forgor

[@Matthewscrimbly]

Tren

[@GraySkull289]

Never had any problems with virgin. I haven't traveled with avanti so can't comment but seen nothing but trouble with them. Increased fares for slower journeys. no thanks. And what was that 4hr journey time they tried to get away with.

[@funnygallie7863]

First 😡

[@u7yf3tz5vm]

Stagecoach

[@GWVillager]

Transdev

[@kriss_b]

Rotola

[@isaactimmins8959]

Go Ahead

[@Mgameing123]

National Express

[@Phoenix-jm7iv]

LNER are so much better