BRITAIN’s secretary of state for transport, Mr Chris Grayling, has told Parliament that he has decided to take back direct control of the InterCity East Coast franchise from the Stagecoach-Virgin joint venture which currently operates the service as Virgin Trains East Coast (VTEC). This is the third time the franchise has been taken back under state control.

BRITAIN’s secretary of state for transport, Mr Chris Grayling, announced in parliament on February 5 that negotiations have been completed with Virgin Trains West Coast, a 51:49 joint venture between Virgin and Stagecoach, for a direct-award contract to continue operating inter-city services on the West Coast Main Line (WCML) for one year from April 1 with an option for a one-year extension.

BRITAIN’s secretary of state for transport Mr Chris Grayling informed the House of Commons on February 5 that the Department for Transport (DfT) is making contingency plans to take over the operation of the Inter-City East Coast (ICEC) franchise from Virgin Trains East Coast (VTEC).

VIRGIN Trains East Coast has launched a new smartphone app which enables passengers to bid for last-minute upgrades for first-class seats.

STAGECOACH, majority owner of British operator Virgin Trains East Coast (90%), has confirmed that it is in discussions over the InterCity East Coast Franchise’s terms with the Department for Transport (DFT), after it revealed that it made a loss for the financial year ending April 29.

BRITISH franchisee Virgin Trains has launched an app to make it easier for passengers to find their way around stations as well as locate friends and translate signs into their own language.

BRITAIN's Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has approved applications by Virgin Trains East Coast (VTEC) and First Group to operate additional long-distance passenger services on the East Coast Main Line, but rejected an application from Great North Eastern Railway (GNER).