UK rail regulator rejects Virgin’s bid for west coast mainline route

ORR rebuffs bids from three companies, saying additional services would increase risk of delays and cancellations

Sir Richard Branson's hopes of returning Virgin trains to the west coast mainline have been dashed after the UK rail regulator rejected its application amid concerns over delays and cancelled journeys.

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has rebuffed three applications for the route, which connects London to Glasgow and serves big cities including Birmingham. Virgin, East Coast Trains (known as Lumo) and Wrexham, Shropshire & Midlands Railway (WSMR) all lost their bids.