Two types of Virgin. Very similar. Very different.
Both are related to the APT in some way.
Both photos taken by Aubrey Morandarte (CC)
(Virgin Trains 390020, Euston & Virgin East Coast 91124, King's Cross)
Virgin Trains (West Coast) is owned by 51% Virgin Group and 49% Stagecoach.
Virgin Train East Coast is owned by 10% Virgin Group and 90% Stagecoach.
Thus don't be misled by the name. Stagecoach (practically) run services from both King's Cross and St Pancras now, as well as the stable South West Trains from Waterloo.
The kerfuffle of the East Coast franchise started when Sea Containers were financially unstable. Although in Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, this did not prevent GNER going into tender. They had improved the franchise, refurbishing the Mark 3 and Mark 4 carriages extensively. The Mark 4 coaches were, along with a Class 91/DVT combination, called "Mallards" (after the A4 locomotive). In 2007 the franchise went to National Express, which completed the refurbishment programme. National Express also experienced difficulties in their finances, so it was transferred to the government (Directly Operated Railways), under the East Coast brand. The last time that happened was when Connex failed to manage its finances on the South Eastern franchise, causing it to be publicly owned from 2003 to 2006. This led to temporary stability for the franchise:
East Coast 91110 'Battle of Britain Memorial Flight', NRM York (Railfest 2012) (© Aubrey)
East Coast 43309, York (© Aubrey)
Then the Conservative government tendered the nationalised franchise back into the private sector. Shortlisted for this franchise was FirstGroup, Keolis/Eurostar and Stagecoach/Virgin in January 2014. In November 2014, the Stagecoach-Virgin bid was the successful bid taken forward. This should run until 2023 at least.
Virgin Trains East Coast 43290, King's Cross (CC Aubrey)
Initially, the trains will have vinyl stickers over the power car "East Coast" branding as shown.
Virgin Trains East Coast 82200, King's Cross (CC Aubrey)
The trains will eventually gain a full vinyl sticker application to the new Virgin Trains East Coast livery.
Virgin East Coast 91105, King's Cross (© Aubrey)
The livery is likened to the Coca Cola branding by many enthusiasts. Designed by the people at Best Impressions, this certainly gives an impression. Nothing is changed inside or in terms of services.
Not all trains have been treated by Virgin stickers, as seen by Virgin Trains East Coast 43295 still in East Coast livery at King's Cross (© Aubrey)
Virgin East Coast 82205 (Flying Scotsman), King's Cross (© Aubrey)
Virgin Trains East Coast have so far committed to keeping the special liveries that East Coast applied to the Class 91/DVTs with their names.
Virgin East Coast 91110 (Battle of Britain Memorial Flight), King's Cross (© Aubrey)
Like, fittingly, 91110.
This makes King's Cross a station full of trains with mainly their old livery and stickers marking the new company running the trains (First Capital Connect -> Great Northern (GTR) and East Coast -> Virgin Trains East Coast (Inter City Railways Limited).
43296 is in East Coast livery with Virgin stickers over the East Coast logos, whilst the Class 365 in the background is in First Capital Connect livery with Great Northern logos. (© Aubrey)
Notably, this is now the fourth time a Virgin-involved company had bidded for the East Coast franchise. In 2000, the re-franchising was scrapped. In 2005, the franchise was re-awarded to Sea Containers (the other companies that bidded were First Group, Danish State Railways-EWS as well as Virgin Rail Group). In 2007, the franchise was awarded to National Express (the other companies that bidded were Arriva, First Group and Virgin Rail Group). This time, Virgin was successful (albeit Inter City Railways is mainly Stagecoach owned, with 10% owned by Virgin in order for the Virgin name to be used).
To explain the link between the Class 390 and the Intercity 225 sets - both trains use technology from the APT-P. The Class 390 uses the powered tilting technology from the APT-P, bringing tilting trains to the West Coast Main Line 17 years late. The Class 91 uses the power car technology of the APT-P, and the Mark 4 coaches have profiled sides which allow the provision for the bogies from the APT to be retrofitted.
Both are related to the APT in some way.
Both photos taken by Aubrey Morandarte (CC)
(Virgin Trains 390020, Euston & Virgin East Coast 91124, King's Cross)
Virgin Trains (West Coast) is owned by 51% Virgin Group and 49% Stagecoach.
Virgin Train East Coast is owned by 10% Virgin Group and 90% Stagecoach.
Thus don't be misled by the name. Stagecoach (practically) run services from both King's Cross and St Pancras now, as well as the stable South West Trains from Waterloo.
The kerfuffle of the East Coast franchise started when Sea Containers were financially unstable. Although in Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, this did not prevent GNER going into tender. They had improved the franchise, refurbishing the Mark 3 and Mark 4 carriages extensively. The Mark 4 coaches were, along with a Class 91/DVT combination, called "Mallards" (after the A4 locomotive). In 2007 the franchise went to National Express, which completed the refurbishment programme. National Express also experienced difficulties in their finances, so it was transferred to the government (Directly Operated Railways), under the East Coast brand. The last time that happened was when Connex failed to manage its finances on the South Eastern franchise, causing it to be publicly owned from 2003 to 2006. This led to temporary stability for the franchise:
East Coast 91110 'Battle of Britain Memorial Flight', NRM York (Railfest 2012) (© Aubrey)
East Coast 43309, York (© Aubrey)
Then the Conservative government tendered the nationalised franchise back into the private sector. Shortlisted for this franchise was FirstGroup, Keolis/Eurostar and Stagecoach/Virgin in January 2014. In November 2014, the Stagecoach-Virgin bid was the successful bid taken forward. This should run until 2023 at least.
Virgin Trains East Coast 43290, King's Cross (CC Aubrey)
Initially, the trains will have vinyl stickers over the power car "East Coast" branding as shown.
Virgin Trains East Coast 82200, King's Cross (CC Aubrey)
The trains will eventually gain a full vinyl sticker application to the new Virgin Trains East Coast livery.
Virgin East Coast 91105, King's Cross (© Aubrey)
The livery is likened to the Coca Cola branding by many enthusiasts. Designed by the people at Best Impressions, this certainly gives an impression. Nothing is changed inside or in terms of services.
Not all trains have been treated by Virgin stickers, as seen by Virgin Trains East Coast 43295 still in East Coast livery at King's Cross (© Aubrey)
Virgin East Coast 82205 (Flying Scotsman), King's Cross (© Aubrey)
Virgin Trains East Coast have so far committed to keeping the special liveries that East Coast applied to the Class 91/DVTs with their names.
Virgin East Coast 91110 (Battle of Britain Memorial Flight), King's Cross (© Aubrey)
Like, fittingly, 91110.
This makes King's Cross a station full of trains with mainly their old livery and stickers marking the new company running the trains (First Capital Connect -> Great Northern (GTR) and East Coast -> Virgin Trains East Coast (Inter City Railways Limited).
43296 is in East Coast livery with Virgin stickers over the East Coast logos, whilst the Class 365 in the background is in First Capital Connect livery with Great Northern logos. (© Aubrey)
Notably, this is now the fourth time a Virgin-involved company had bidded for the East Coast franchise. In 2000, the re-franchising was scrapped. In 2005, the franchise was re-awarded to Sea Containers (the other companies that bidded were First Group, Danish State Railways-EWS as well as Virgin Rail Group). In 2007, the franchise was awarded to National Express (the other companies that bidded were Arriva, First Group and Virgin Rail Group). This time, Virgin was successful (albeit Inter City Railways is mainly Stagecoach owned, with 10% owned by Virgin in order for the Virgin name to be used).
To explain the link between the Class 390 and the Intercity 225 sets - both trains use technology from the APT-P. The Class 390 uses the powered tilting technology from the APT-P, bringing tilting trains to the West Coast Main Line 17 years late. The Class 91 uses the power car technology of the APT-P, and the Mark 4 coaches have profiled sides which allow the provision for the bogies from the APT to be retrofitted.
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