The Department of Transport (DfT) has announced that Virgin Trains has been awarded the contract to continue operating the west coast mainline rail franchise until 2018. Virgin have agreed to providing thousands of extra standard seats, better Wi-Fi and station upgrades as part of this deal. Virgin have run this service since 1997, however nearly lost it in 2012 when the government initially awarded it to FirstGroup before the decision was disputed.

Virgin Trains starts West Coast court action