Results for: Avanti West Coast

Train services at Glasgow Central have been severely disrupted due to heavy flooding on Thursday, May 23, 2024. The flooding, caused by the River Caldew bursting its banks, has inundated the West Coast Main Line in Carlisle, affecting all services between Glasgow Central, Edinburgh Waverley, and Carlisle. Avanti West Coast has canceled services between Preston and Glasgow/Edinburgh in both directions, urging travelers to avoid these routes. The disruption has major implications for travel and tourism, particularly for those planning trips to or from Glasgow.

Virgin Trains is exploring a return to operating rail services on the West Coast route between London and Glasgow, five years after losing the franchise. The move, if approved, would see Virgin compete with Avanti West Coast, the current operator. Under an Open Access license, Virgin would assume the risks and rewards of running the service without government subsidies. The application comes amid ongoing criticism of Avanti’s performance, including delays and cancellations. Virgin’s proposed services would connect London Euston to Preston, Rochdale, Manchester, Bolton, Birmingham, Liverpool, and Glasgow.

Virgin Trains has submitted an application for an Open Access license to operate rail services on the West Coast Mainline, five years after losing the franchise to Avanti West Coast. The move, if successful, would allow Virgin Trains to run services independently, without government subsidy, alongside franchised operators like Avanti. Open Access is seen as a way to increase consumer choice and competition in the rail industry, and Virgin believes it is the future of rail services.