Virgin Trains (brand)

The Virgin Group first showed interest in operating rail services in 1992 when it discussed with British Rail the possibility of operating luxury trains on the East Coast Main Line from London to Edinburgh and Glasgow with four hired InterCity 225 sets.

[3] It also bid unsuccessfully for the Thameslink, Thames Trains and West Anglia Great Northern franchises.

Having overbid, in June 2018 the franchise was handed back to the Department for Transport with London North Eastern Railway taking over.

[17] However, in August 2020 Brightline sought to terminate the deal, claiming that the Virgin Trains brand was no longer of value after the loss of its InterCity West Coast franchise.

[19] In October 2023 Virgin won in the High Court of Justice in London and was awarded $115 million in damages.