Virgin has applied to operate as an Open Access provider on the UK’s West Coast Main Line, proposing to introduce 40 new daily services. The plan includes routes from London to Birmingham, Liverpool, Preston, and Rochdale.
The proposal would introduce up to 13,680 additional seats per day, based on Virgin’s internal projections. The company positions the move as a response to passenger demand for operator choice on key intercity routes.
A recent report commissioned by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) confirmed available capacity at Temple Mills depot in East London. This facility, used for train maintenance and servicing, had been cited as a limiting factor for introducing new operators. ORR’s findings clear one of the remaining operational barriers to Virgin’s intended entry.
The Temple Mills site is currently the only UK facility suitable for maintaining European-style trainsets. According to the ORR, it is not operating at full capacity, removing a logistical constraint that had previously been referenced in discussions about Open Access on this corridor.
Virgin previously held the InterCity West Coast franchise until 2019. The company has since expressed continued interest in re-entering the British passenger rail market through Open Access frameworks, which allow operators to provide commercial services without government subsidy or franchise agreements.
The ORR is expected to decide on Virgin’s application later this month. No formal launch dates have been confirmed.
