Stagecoach Virgin Begin to Re-brand Trains & Stations

The East Coast rail route between London and Scotland has returned to private hands after more than five years in the public sector.

Services on the line have been operated by a Department for Transport (DfT) controlled company since November 2009 using 'East Coast' branding.

A Department for Transport spokesman said: "The skills and experience that the private sector provides drives forward innovation and investment, and has helped to transform our rail network into a real success story.

"We are confident that the new Virgin East Coast franchise gives the best deal for passengers.

"It will provide more seats, more services, new trains and over £140m of investment along the route.

"In addition, more than £3bn will be paid to taxpayers."

The £140m will be invested over eight years, with the £3bn coming from the money Virgin Trains East Coast is paying for the contract.

Its plans include 23 new services to and from London, and 3,100 extra seats for the morning peak by 2020.

Services currently run from London King's Cross to Edinburgh, serving locations such as Peterborough, Doncaster, Leeds, York and Newcastle.

Customers and communities along the new Virgin Trains East Coast network will be able to bid for a share of a £3m innovation fund. The fund will be used for projects suggested directly by Virgin Trains East Coast customers and their communities. The money is in addition to the £140m already committed to the franchise by the Stagecoach / Virgin partnership.
Twice-yearly stakeholder summits will be held along the network to discuss the ideas put forward, before the best ideas are given to the Secretary of State for approval.

Following the official take over of East Coast services on 1st March by the Stagecoach Virgin partnership, Virgin logos and colours have already started to appear on trains and at stations.
Brochures were being given out to travellers at Newcastle Central station on Monday morning by staff in Virgin uniform.
The first fully re-branded train was due to arrive at Newcastle at 13.49 which it did exactly on time.
Looking good in the new livery was 91124 which was hauling a complete set of mark 4 coaches in the new Virgin East Coast livery. The livery uses similar colours to that used on the West Coast Pendelino stock but on the East Coast version the red areas swoop over the ends of the light grey coaches.
Thanks to Virgin East Coast staff at Newcastle Central Station for allowing visitors onto the platforms to take pictures.

 91124 pulls out of Newcastle on its journey to Edinburgh, showing off the new livery

 DVT 82219 at the rear of the train in the new livery

 The coaches are painted in a light grey with Virgin red swooping over the coach ends

 91124 seen at Kings Cross at the start of the northbound journey

 Virgin signage is already evident

 Leaflets were being handed out by Virgin staff

 As an interim measure, the trains will be Virgin branded as seen here on loco 91119 at Newcastle Central Station

If anyone has pictures of the new branding in the early days of the franchise please send them to focustransport2011@gmail.com
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