Virgin Trains - Virgin Trains Performance - B

Virgin Trains - B

Virgin Trains Performance

Virgin Trains Passenger Numbers

Virgin Trains Annual Passenger Numbers

Year	Passengers	Passenger-kilometres (millions)	% Change (millions)	% Change
2010–2011	28.9		5,698.8
2011–2012	30.2	Increase4.5	5,923.0	Increase3.9
2012–2013	30.4	Increase0.7	5,958.4	Increase0.6
2013-2014	31.9	Increase4.9	6,215.4	Increase4.3
2014-2015	34.5	Increase8.2	6,887.9	Increase10.8
2015-2016	35.7	Increase3.5	7,059.8	Increase2.5

Virgin Trains Punctuality

Virgin Trains suffered poor punctuality compared with some other transport operators between 2001 and 2006, according to Office of Rail Regulation statistics.

Punctuality did gradually improve until the introduction of a new timetable (in December 2008), following the upgrade of the West Coast Main Line, which resulted in a dip in performance.

Performance subsequently recovered and peaked during 2010–11, but then fell again and reached a new low for the year ending 31 March 2013 of 83.6% (MAA).

The PPM MAA (Public Performance Measure Moving Annual Average - % of trains arriving within 10 minutes of the scheduled times) figures for Virgin Trains are as follows:

Virgin Trains Financial Year

to 31 March % within 10 mins

2002 68.7%
2003 73.5%
2004 74.8%
2005 72.1%
2006 83.5%
2007 86.0%
2008 86.2%
2009 80.0%
2010 84.6%
2011 86.6%
2012 85.9%
2013 83.6%
2014 85.8%
2015 84.7%

Latest figures published by Network Rail for the seventh period of 2013-2014 recorded PPM of 92.2% for the period and a MAA of 83.5% for the 12 months up to 12 October 2013. The PPM performance for the period is down 2.7 percentage points on the corresponding figure from the same period last year.

Network Rail noted that Virgin Trains were only responsible for 16% of delays in period 5. Network Rail was itself directly responsible for 50% of Virgin Trains' delays, 20% were a result of external factors (e.g. fatalities) and the final 14% were due to other operators.

Chris Green as chief executive led a drive to improve reliability and punctuality after much press criticism in 2001, and by 2006, due to improved reliability of trains and completion of major infrastructure projects, performance was better. Virgin has undertaken a number of projects to increase punctuality, including radio-controlled watches.

Virgin Trains Grayrigg Derailment

On 23 February 2007, a Class 390 Pendolino "City of Glasgow" forming the 17:15 London Euston to Glasgow Central service derailed in the village of Grayrigg in Cumbria. The train was carrying 109 people. Several carriages were left lying on the railway embankments.

An elderly woman was killed in the derailment. Five people were seriously injured. The accident was caused by a faulty set of points and Network Rail accepted full responsibility. The train itself however was widely praised for the way it retained its structural integrity. Richard Branson also praised the train driver because he attempted to stop the train and did not get out of the cab before it derailed.

Virgin Trains Overview

Virgin Trains Franchise(s):

InterCity West Coast

9 March 1997 – 7 December 2019

Virgin Trains Main Route(s):

London–Liverpool

London–West Midlands

London–Chester

London–Manchester

Virgin Trains Other Route(s):

London–Holyhead

London–Shrewsbury

London–Wrexham

London–Blackpool

Virgin Trains Fleet Size: 56

Class 390 Pendolino sets

20 Class 221 Super Voyager sets

Virgin Trains Stations Called At: 46

Virgin Trains Stations Operated: 15

Virgin Trains Parent Company:

Virgin Rail Group

Virgin Group (51%)

Stagecoach (49%)

Virgin Trains Reporting Mark: VT

Virgin Trains Predecessor: InterCity

Virgin Trains Successor: Avanti West Coast

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