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Branson has eye on the East Coast Line
Robert Lea03.02.09
Sir Richard Branson has begun lobbying to take control of train services out of King's Cross and win Virgin Trains a monopoly on fast intercity trains to the North and Scotland.
Branson has indicated his Virgin Trains, which runs West Coast Main Line trains from Euston to Glasgow, would be willing to step in if the East Coast Main Line franchise came up for tender.
The rail industry is awash with talk that National Express is struggling to meet the terms of the East Coast services from King's Cross to Edinburgh.National Express has been running the franchise for little more than a year but was understood to have signed up to onerous terms in the £1.4 billion contract after previous operator GNER was reckoned to have milked the business.
It is understood National Express East Coast is being hit by a downturn in commuter numbers. The Government's leading rail civil servant has indicated that five train franchises are in trouble.
Reader views (16)
To be fair, a lot of the criticisms of the West Coast service aren't Virgin's fault - they can be laid fairly and squarely at the door of Network Rail to manage upgrade works properly. Doesn't excuse the fact that the Pendolino trains have tiny windows and smelly toilets though!
To those that claim that having Virgin control both the WCML and the ECML would be a monopoly, I don't think so really. First of all after leaving London, the West and East Coast main lines diverge apart very quickly, and serve major towns and cities that are nowhere near each other (you wouldn't do a connecting service on the West Coast Main Line to get from London to York or Newcastle, now would you??). With the new timetable, Glasgow is the only destination that both companies serve. Also, Virgin West Coast only go as far as Glasgow, whilst Nat Ex East Coast goes to Aberdeen and Inverness. Plus no-one was calling it a "monopoly" when it was British Rail InterCity were they? And walk-up fares were a lot, lot lower then as well.
After the excellent job that GNER did on the ECML, I'd be quite glad to see the back of National Express to be honest.
- Derek L, Glasgow
AND?? Quit moaning
Could have moved seats then, whats was stopping you. Count yourself lucky mate. some parts of the world havent even got a railway or a bus service. we get by
- Worker, Essex
National Express are advertising very low fares, but when you try to book them several weeks in advance they are not available.
I have always managed to get very cheap fares on Virgin at much shorter notice.
The trick is to buy two singles instead of a return. Inevitably this is cheaper for advance purchase off peak travel
Try comparing advance purchase fares from Euston to Manchester and Kings Cross to York. Both journies are for the same distance but Virgin always seem to be able to offer better deals.
The National Express East Coast franchise is slowly collapsing due to the massive subsidies they offered when they took over from GNER. Branson has realised this and is putting forward a solution in advance of the potential collapse. Everyone else appears to be burying their heads in the sand.
- Andrew , London
The depth of understanding by your correspondents into this idea is illustrated by the fact that 2 of them appear unaware that Virgin stopped running Cross Country over 1 year ago. It has incidentally deteriorated significantly since then mostly thanks to inept meddling from the DFT.
- Gordon, Edinburgh, UK
On a recent visit back to the UK, I paid 62 pounds for the privilege of sitting outside a smelly toilet on the Euston to Preston train for 3 hours. People moan here in Sydney about our transport system, there would be a riot if they had to put up with the over-priced and over crowded excuse for a service in the UK.
- matthew Briggs, sydney, Australia
I agree with Jim from NZ. I and others have not been able book tickets on Virgin trains website for 12 months due to fault with their booking system. Virgin trains are not interested in the problem despite repeated emails to their customer services department.
KEEP BRANSON OFF THE LINE!
- Mick, Wilmlsow UK
No, no and no again. The Virgin Cross Country service is appalling compared to the service provided by National Express. Ticket prices would rocket as there would be no competition. This must not be allowed.
- Elizabeth, Newcastle, England
As a frequent traveller when in the UK from Kings X to Edinburgh I pray that Richard Branson does not get his hands on the East Coast line. The service has already deteriorated since GNER went and Virgin would be a gigantic leap backwards. If there is a God then please, please hear my plea......KEEP BRANSON OFF THE LINE!
- Jim, Auckland, New Zealand.
Branson is a great opportunist and I salute him. He came from selling other peoples stuff from the back of a van to global dominance. I can hardly think of any line of business he has not tried to buy at the bottom and to off-load at the top after much hype and massage to eager and innocent punters. From insurance, to telecoms, to banking,to rail transport, to airlines, to including an attempt for the UK lottery, etcetc To advising the Government to cut interest rates (maybe he has a few too many debts or he needs capital to pick up the next bargain). God bless him because we need more entrepreneurs like him.
- Bondy, london
Branson is a good self publicist, but one of the worst at delivering an effective train service. The rule on his mainline services is for total overcrowding and cramped conditions, which would be illegal for cattle.
- Ian, Reading, England
When is this empire Branson building going to come to an end? He's after the trains the outer space monopoly and mobile internet. OFT have to step in and call ahalt and break up this Virgin Empire.
- Dhanraj, Basildon Essex
Just so long as he doesn't start running three or four coach services on long distance routes, such as those covered by Virgin Cross Country. Even the first class is full.
- Markwright, Milan, Italy
Sorry, Andy from St Ives, you've misunderstood - it's the mainline trains (formerly GNER) that Branson is after, not the Peterborough commuter trains. But having said that, the present East Coast mainline service is streets ahead of anything Branson provides. Anyone who travels occasionally on both the west coast and east coast lines will be all too aware of this. Keep Branson out, please!
- John, Bedford
The National Express service appears far worse than GNER ever was. Bring on the Branson.
- Pootle, Twickenham
When the service was WAGN, it was cheap and always on time. The staff and service were great..it was the best line in the country. Then the government got gready and all that was thrown out. The prices have rocketed in the last few years, the trains are slower and they call at more stations. I dont use it now...I drive.
- Andy, St Ives, Cambs
National Express should be stripped of all its rail franchises. Customer service is non-existent and they are milking these franchises dry until they hand the keys back.
- Seasoned Traveller, UK
