Why did Virgin lose the trains?
Why did Virgin lose the trains? After three years in which they lost more than £200m, the DfT took control from Virgin Trains East Coast. That experience made the Virgin-Stagecoach combination wary of committing too much for the renewal of the West Coast franchise. In particular, they were not prepared to commit to uncertain pension liabilities.
What does the L stand for in LNER?
LNER stands for London North Eastern Railway. We run up and down the East Coast mainline from busy London right up the east side of England to stunning Inverness.
Could Virgin Trains come back?
Virgin Trains and its partner Stagecoach have been excluded from bidding to continue to run trains on the West Coast main line beyond 2020 because, says the DfT: “They submitted non-compliant bids for all current competitions which breached established rules and, in doing so, they are responsible for their own ...
Why did they get rid of Virgin Trains?
After three years in which they lost more than £200m, the DfT took control from Virgin Trains East Coast. That experience made the Virgin-Stagecoach combination wary of committing too much for the renewal of the West Coast franchise. In particular, they were not prepared to commit to uncertain pension liabilities.
Who got rid of trains UK?
Dr Richard Beeching is much maligned as the Chairman of the British Railways Board who wielded his axe, closing thousands of miles of railway and stations in the 1960s.
Why are LNER trains called Azuma?
Azuma means “east” in Japanese. Our new trains use Japanese bullet train technology, built by Hitachi's UK manufacturing team in County Durham, using parts supplied from the North East.
How fast will HS2 go?
HS2's new British-built, bullet style trains will travel at up to 225mph on both high-speed and existing railway lines. We are building HS2 in phases. Our first phase of operation will link Birmingham Curzon Street and Old Oak Common in West London in 42 minutes.
Are Avanti and LNER the same?
The LNER route is the primary service from Edinburgh to London. The Avanti service at Edinburgh isn't really there for journeys from Edinburgh to London.
What are Virgin Trains now called?
Avanti West Coast is owned by FirstGroup and Trenitalia. The new West Coast Partnership operates all trains on the West Coast Franchise, taking over from Virgin Trains in December 2019.
Who owns the Flying Scotsman now?
Flying Scotsman is owned by the National Railway Museum and operated and maintained by Riley & Son (E) Ltd.
What is the fastest train in the UK?
The maximum speed currently possible in the UK is 186mph, achieved by Eurostar trains on the HS1 line between London and the Channel Tunnel. The HS1 line is used by Eurostar services and Javelin commuter services from Kent, although the latter have a max speed of 140mph.
What train was used in Harry Potter?
West Coast Railways, operators of 'The Jacobite', provided the steam engine and carriages for the 'Hogwarts Express' as seen in the 'Harry Potter' films including 'The Philosopher's Stone' and others in this wonderful series of films. Some of the carriages of 'The Jacobite' are those used in the 'Harry Potter' films.
Was Flying Scotsman a LNER?
In 1923, Flying Scotsman was the first locomotive built at the Doncaster Works by the then newly formed LNER, which also celebrates its centenary this year. City of Doncaster Council and London North Eastern Railway (LNER) hosted the special visit, with support from the National Railway Museum.