Virgin, Stagecoach and France’s SNCF link up for HS2 bid

Virgin and Stagecoach team up with French state-owned rail operator SNCF to bid to run the first trains on HS2 line.

Virgin and Stagecoach have teamed up with the French state-owned rail operator SNCF in their bid to run the first trains on the £56Bn HS2 line.

The new group will bid against First Group and the Italian state-owned Trenitalia, as well as any others that come forward, for the West Coast Partnership franchise, to run the existing intercity service on the main line from London to Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow.

The winner will also run the new high speed services once they are up and running in 2026.

Virgin brought SNCF on board following an advisory from the Department for Transport, which stipulated that all bidders must have experience of running high-speed trains.

Martin Griffiths, the Chief Executive of Stagecoach, said: “This creates a powerful world-class partnership, bringing together the team which has transformed intercity rail travel in the UK with the most recognised and capable high-speed operator in Europe.”

Guillaume Pepy, Chairman and Chief Executive of SNCF said: “Today, we are delighted to announce this next step in our commitment to UK rail, working with partners who have demonstrated their own expertise in long distance rail services and are highly regarded in the industry”.

Stagecoach is taking a 50% share, SNCF 30% and Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin 20%.

The union’s general secretary, Mick Cash, said: “This is yet another landgrab on Britain’s railways by the French state with SNCF and Richard Branson both realising that this new franchise will be a one-way ticket to the bank for whoever comes out on top in this latest UK rail lottery.

“The integrated HS2/west coast operation has been bought and paid for by the British people and should be run by the British state in the public interest and not by some consortium of speculators looking to make a killing at the taxpayer’s expense.”

The shortlist of bidders will be confirmed in June, and the winner selected next year.

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