Virgin Trains travel services

Virgin Trains was a high-profile brand in the UK rail industry, operating major intercity routes between 1997 and 2019. The brand became synonymous with modernizing British rail travel, introducing tilting Pendolino trains and significantly increasing passenger numbers on the West Coast Main Line.

The service was primarily a partnership between the Virgin Group and Stagecoach Group. While the brand is iconic to the British transportation landscape, the operational franchise was awarded by the UK Department for Transport. In 2019, the franchise ended as the contract was awarded to Avanti West Coast, though the Virgin Group continues to maintain the brand for various global transport ventures, including Virgin Trains USA (now Brightline) and Virgin Hyperloop.

The manufacturing of the rolling stock used by Virgin Trains, such as the Class 390 Pendolinos, was primarily handled by Alstom in Italy and the United Kingdom, while the Class 221 Super Voyagers were manufactured by Bombardier Transportation in Belgium. The brand itself remains a key asset of Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group portfolio.