Virgin Trains is eyeing a return to operating rail services on the West Coast route connecting London and Glasgow, marking a potential comeback five years after losing the franchise.

The move would see Virgin Trains re-entering competition with Avanti West Coast, the company that secured the contract in 2019.

For 22 years, Virgin Trains had managed the service, which traverses from London Euston through Birmingham and Manchester to Scotland, before being disqualified from franchise bidding.

Virgin Group has confirmed to the BBC its application to the Office of Rail and Road for an Open Access license, a type that involves no state subsidies and places the onus of running the rail service solely on the company. This differs from franchised operators like Avanti, which hold contracts with the government.

A spokesperson for Virgin Group emphasized the benefits of Open Access, citing increased consumer choice and competition, principles long supported by Virgin.

Since taking over the franchise, Avanti has encountered criticism over service disruptions. Last September, the Department for Transport renewed Avanti West Coast's contract for up to nine years. However, in March this year, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham urged the removal of Avanti, citing persistent chaos. Despite calls for action, the DfT opted against contract termination, asserting it would exacerbate passenger upheaval.

Virgin Group's application aims to operate services between London Euston and various destinations in the north-west, including Preston, Rochdale via Manchester and Bolton, as well as Birmingham, Liverpool, and Glasgow.

Previously, the West Coast service was a joint venture between Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group and Stagecoach. However, Virgin emphasized its independent application, expressing intent to directly manage the trains if successful.

Upon losing the contract, Virgin Trains had facilitated nearly 500 million journeys, leaving Sir Richard Branson "devastated." Stagecoach, its partner, faced disqualification from bidding for other franchises due to regulatory non-compliance.

Sir Richard had hinted at a potential rail industry return, indicating his interest in trains just last year. A spokesperson for Virgin underscored customer anticipation for Virgin Trains' potential return, citing the value of providing choice and competition in the market. Photo by Peter Broster, Wikimedia commons.