Virgin Trains ExpressCoach

Virgin Trains ExpressCoach
Industry Coach transport
Founded 30 May 1999
Defunct circa 2009
Parent Virgin Rail Group

Virgin Trains ExpressCoach (formerly Virgin CoachLink) was a coach brand in England owned by the Virgin Rail Group.

History

Plaxton Profile bodied Volvo B7R at Milton Keynes station in May 2009

As part of Virgin Rail Group's winning bid for the InterCity West Coast franchise, it committed to introducing coach links with through ticketing to destinations off the West Coast Main Line.

On 30 May 1999, services from Stratford-upon-Avon to Coventry station, the Peak District to Maccelsfield station, Bromsgrove to Birmingham International station and Luton Airport to Milton Keynes Central station (VT99) commenced. On the same day a service from Hampshire to Southampton station on Virgin's CrossCountry franchise was introduced. All were operated by Stagecoach subsidiaries, Stagecoach having a 49% shareholding in the Virgin Rail Group.[1][2][3] A service from Heathrow Airport to Watford Junction station was introduced in September 2005, being withdrawn in May 2008.[4]

The service between Milton Keynes and Luton Airport was relaunched by Stagecoach in Bedford and Virgin Trains in 2006.[5] The services no longer operate with Virgin Trains branding, however some are still operated as Stagecoach services.

References

  1. ↑ "New Virgin bus/rail links start in May" Rail Magazine issue 350 10 February 1999 page 19
  2. ↑ "Virgin Trains - dedicated bus links to start in May" Rail Magazine issue 356 5 May 1999 page 14
  3. ↑ "Virgin and Stagecoach launch new Rail Link bus services" The Railway Magazine issue 1180 August 1999 page 75
  4. ↑ "VT rail-air link" Rail Magazine issue 523 28 September 2005
  5. ↑ Access for all as Virgin Trains and Stagecoach upgrades Milton Keynes-Luton Airport coaches Virgin Trains 18 November 2006
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