Scots/Italian firm to take over West Coast train services
Last updated 14th Aug 2019
An Italian company has been chosen to take over the over the running of trains from Glasgow to London which have been run by Virgin Trains since privatisation 22 years ago.
First Trenitalia will take over the franchise on the West Coast Main Line from December 8, the Department for Transport has said, with a promise of new trains, easier to understand fares and more frequent services.
First Trenitalia is a joint venture between Aberdeen-based FirstGroup and Italian-owned train operator Trenitalia, with the former owning 70% of the partnership.
The joint partnership was awarded the West Coast Partnership (WCP) contract, which also includes responsibility for running the first HS2 trains from 2026.
But the Department for Transport said the Government will "shortly launch a review'' into the new high-speed railway, which was widely expected after Boris Johnson became Prime Minister.
It added that the WCP has been designed to ensure it can implement the review's outcomes''.
A spokesman for Virgin Trains, which has ran trains on the West Coast route since 1997, said: "Virgin Trains has led the industry for 22 years, delivering faster journeys to more destinations, harnessing new technology and always putting the customer first.
"We'll now work with First Trenitalia to ensure a seamless handover for customers, who should still book and travel as normal.''
Mick Cash, general secretary of the RMT)union, said: "The announcement this morning that First Trenitalia are being shunted on to the West Coast Main Line to replace Virgin/Stagecoach in the midst of the rail staff pension row is just another political fix by a Government whose privatised franchise model is collapsing around their ears.
"Instead of following the popular public sector route, the Tories are taking yet another gamble on the crucial West Coast lines with one of the dwindling number of private operator consortia left in the game, in a move that RMT believes is doomed to failure and sure to result in yet more rail chaos.
"RMT will take whatever action is required to protect out members' pay, jobs, working conditions and pensions on these vital inter-city routes."
Hear the latest news on Clyde 1 on FM, DAB, smart speaker or the Rayo app.