15/11/2004

Rail passengers are being given the chance to give their views on the future of the InterCity East Coast franchise via a new website launched by joint bidders Stagecoach and Virgin.

The Virgin-Stagecoach joint venture is currently preparing its bid for what is one of the UK’s flagship rail franchises and has already undertaken extensive consultation with local rail passenger consultative committees and stakeholders along the route.

Now Virgin-Stagecoach has launched a dedicated website, www.virgin-stagecoach.co.uk, to give a range of stakeholders an opportunity to help shape the final bid.

The new website includes information on how interested parties can register their views, the shape of the franchise, the track record of Virgin and Stagecoach in delivering major improvements for passengers, and the priorities for InterCity East Coast.

Virgin-Stagecoach Bid Director Simon Bailey said: “Customers are at the heart of our bid and we are committed to delivering plans that will meet their key priorities: a safe, reliable, value-for-money and customer-focused railway.

“While many elements of the new franchise are specified by the Strategic Rail Authority, we want to hear from passengers and other groups about what can be improved in the current service and how they would like the railway developed in the future.

“Both Stagecoach and Virgin already have extensive experience of operating inter-city services. We believe our strong track-record, the views of stakeholders and our own ideas can deliver an even better InterCity East Coast railway.”

Final bids have to be presented to the Strategic Rail Authority by 6 December 2004.

ENDS

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Notes to Editors:

Stagecoach Group PLC:

Stagecoach Group is a leading international transportation group, with operations in the UK, the USA, Canada and New Zealand. The Group’s businesses, which include bus, train, tram, express coach, and ferry operations, operate around 16,000 vehicles and rolling stock and employ around 30,000 people. In the UK, Stagecoach is one of the biggest bus operators and also runs the largest rail franchise, South West Trains. Formed in 1980, the company floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1993 and now has an annual turnover of around £1.3 billion.

The Virgin Group of Companies:

The Virgin Group of Companies was established by Richard Branson in 1970 and now encompasses more than 200 companies around the world, operating in sectors ranging from transportation to financial services, mobile telephony, entertainment and retail. Virgin Group employs more than 25,000 people and its total worldwide sales in 2003 exceeded £4.5 billion.

InterCity East Coast

InterCity East Coast is one of Britain’s busiest long distance rail routes, which links London with several cities in both England and Scotland, including Edinburgh. The current franchise runs until the end of April 2005.