View source for Virgin CrossCountry

{{Short description|1997–2007 UK train operating company}}
{{For|the present franchise holder of the [[Cross Country Route]]|CrossCountry}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2010}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox Rail companies
|name           = Virgin CrossCountry
|image_filename = Virgin Voyager 220003 2005-06-09 03.jpg
|image_size     = 300px
|caption        = A [[British Rail Class 220|Class 220 ''Voyager'']] at {{stnlnk|Bristol Temple Meads}} in 2005
|franchise      = InterCity CrossCountry<br /> 6 January 1997 – 10 November 2007
|logo_filename  = VirginTrainsLogo.svg
|nameforarea    = route
|abbr           = VXC
|regions        = Southern England/London Paddington and South West England/South East Wales – Midlands – Northern England and Scotland
|secregions     = 
|fleet          = 34 [[British Rail Class 220|''Voyager'']] and 44 [[British Rail Class 221|''Super Voyager'']] sets
|stations       = 
|parent_company = [[Virgin Rail Group]]: [[Virgin Group]] (51%)<br />[[Stagecoach Group|Stagecoach]] (49%)
|successor = [[CrossCountry]]
|website        = }}

'''Virgin CrossCountry'''<ref>{{cite web |url = http://data.companieshouse.gov.uk/doc/company/03007937 |publisher = [[Companies House]] |title = extract company no 3007937: CrossCountry Trains Limited |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140117100322/http://data.companieshouse.gov.uk/doc/company/03007937 |archive-date = 17 January 2014 }}</ref> was a [[train operating company]] in the United Kingdom that operated the InterCity CrossCountry passenger franchise from January 1997 until November 2007. Along with the [[InterCity West Coast]]<ref>{{cite web |url = http://data.companieshouse.gov.uk/doc/company/03007940 |publisher = [[Companies House]] |title = extract company no 3007940: West Coast Trains Limited |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140414112527/http://data.companieshouse.gov.uk/doc/company/03007940 |archive-date = 14 April 2014 }}</ref> franchise held by a separate legal entity, the company traded under the [[Virgin Trains]] brand.

Operations commenced on 5 January 1997 as part of the [[privatisation of British Rail]]. Originally scheduled to run for 15 years, the franchise was suspended in favour of a management contract in July 2002. The government opted to retender the CrossCountry franchise during the late 2000s and services were transferred over to [[Arriva]]-owned [[CrossCountry]] on 11 November 2007.

Virgin CrossCountry operated some of the longest direct rail services in the United Kingdom, but most avoided [[Greater London]] entirely as a result of changes in 2003. All of its services called, or terminated, at [[Birmingham New Street railway station|Birmingham New Street]]. Multiple service reorganisations, such as Project Princess and Project Omega, were implemented by the company. In order to replace its [[British Rail]]-era [[rolling stock]], the company introduced [[British Rail Class 220|Class 220 ''Voyagers'']] and [[British Rail Class 221|Class 221 ''Super Voyagers'']].

==History==
[[File:Virgin Mk 2 carrage 2001...png|thumb|[[British Rail Mark 2|Mark 2]] carriage at [[Banbury railway station|Banbury]] in 2001]]
Amid the [[privatisation of British Rail]] during the mid 1990s, the newly formed [[Virgin Rail Group]] submitted multiple bids to operate several different train franchises, including [[Gatwick Express]], InterCity CrossCountry and [[InterCity West Coast]].<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.independent.co.uk/news/national-express-wins-gatwick-rail-franchise-1303118.html |title = National Express wins Gatwick rail franchise |work = [[The Independent]] |date = 4 April 1996 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181225180748/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/national-express-wins-gatwick-rail-franchise-1303118.html |archive-date = 25 December 2018 }}</ref> It was successful in winning the latter two, both scheduled to run for 15 years, leading to the creation of Virgin CrossCountry and [[Virgin Trains West Coast|Virgin West Coast]]:<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/virgin-to-run-crosscountry-trains-1352306.html |title = Virgin to run CrossCountry trains |work = The Independent |date = 14 November 1996 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171107055841/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/virgin-to-run-crosscountry-trains-1352306.html |archive-date = 7 November 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/virgin-pledges-tilt-trains-for-west-coast-1286084.html |title = Virgin pledges tilt trains for West Coast |first = Michael |last = Harrison |date = 31 January 1997|work = The Independent |access-date = 4 October 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170820034655/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/virgin-pledges-tilt-trains-for-west-coast-1286084.html |archive-date = 20 August 2017}}</ref> During November 1996, it was announced that Virgin had been awarded the InterCity CrossCountry franchise.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/virgin-to-run-crosscountry-trains-1352306.html |title = Virgin to run CrossCountry trains |work = The Independent |date = 14 November 1996 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171107055841/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/virgin-to-run-crosscountry-trains-1352306.html |archive-date = 7 November 2017 }}</ref> Services were operated by a wholly owned subsidiary, CrossCountry Trains Limited.<ref>{{Cite web |url = https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/03007937 |title = CROSSCOUNTRY TRAINS LIMITED |website = Companies House |language = en |access-date = 14 April 2019 |archive-date = 14 April 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190414085554/https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/03007937 |url-status = live}}</ref> The company commenced operations on 5 January 1997.

In October 1998, [[Virgin Group]] sold 49% of the shares in Virgin Rail Group to [[Stagecoach Group|Stagecoach]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/188052.stm Virgin passengers get better deal] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130303055502/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/188052.stm|date=3 March 2013}} ''BBC News'' 7 October 1998</ref>

Virgin sought to introduce new [[tilting train]]s upon some of its services; however, their introduction was repeatedly delayed as a consequence of poor project management by the national railway infrastructure owner of the era, [[Railtrack]].<ref name="pend launch">{{cite magazine |url = http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/pendolino-to-attack-the-london-manchester-market.html |url-access = registration |title = Pendolino to attack the London - Manchester market |last = Hughes |first = Murray |magazine = [[Railway Gazette International]] |publisher = [[DVV Media Group]] |issn = 0373-5346 |location = Sutton |date = 1 February 2003 |access-date = 13 November 2019 |archive-date = 28 July 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190728172847/https://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/pendolino-to-attack-the-london-manchester-market.html |url-status = live }}</ref> Infrastructure changes were required to make effective use of tilting trains and, while Railtrack had committed itself to performing such upgrades on the [[West Coast Main Line]] as to permit 140&nbsp;mph operation by 2005, the modernisation programme soon suffered from spiralling costs,<ref>{{cite web |url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/565507.stm |title = Repair costs spiral to £5bn |publisher = BBC News |date = 15 December 1999 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131110021245/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/565507.stm |archive-date = 10 November 2013 |df = dmy-all}}</ref> as well as technical failures such as the [[moving block]] signalling apparatus sought being immature for the intended use at that time.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2004/apr/01/transport.uk |title = The main players in the £10bn rail fiasco |work = The Guardian |first = James |last = Meek |date = 1 April 2004 }}</ref> Railtrack would ultimately collapse in 2002 while its successor, [[Network Rail]], would also be unable to fully deliver the promised upgrade, heavily impacting Virgin's operations.<ref name="wolmar 2005">{{cite web |last = Christian |first = Wolmar |work = [[The Guardian]] |date = 16 July 2005 |url = https://www.theguardian.com/comment/story/0,3604,1529802,00.html |title = Forget Byers: the scandal was in the original sell-off: Railtrack was heading for disaster long before the Hatfield crash}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200203/cmselect/cmtran/125/125ap10.htm |title = Supplementary memorandum by the Strategic Rail Authority |publisher = House of Commons |date = 22 July 2002}}</ref>

In the wake of the collapse of Railtrack and the inability of Network Rail to fully deliver on promised improvements, both the Virgin CrossCountry and [[Virgin Trains|Virgin West Coast]] franchises were suspended in favour of management contracts in July 2002.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200203/cmselect/cmtran/125/125ap10.htm |title = Virgin Rail Group Interim Agreement |publisher = House of Commons Select Committee on Transport |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170907213543/https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200203/cmselect/cmtran/125/125ap10.htm |archive-date = 7 September 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title = CrossCountry could be carved up as SRA rejects Virgin bid |magazine = [[Rail Magazine]] |issue = 494 |date = 18 August 2004 |page = 6}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title = CrossCountry network could be axed, fears Virgin |magazine = [[The Railway Magazine]] |issue = 1242 |date = October 2004 |page = 4}}</ref> While the terms of the West Coast franchise were renegotiated, an agreement could not be reached on CrossCountry, and it was thus retendered during the late 2000s. Virgin Trains were keen to retain the franchise, and submitted a bid in response along with several other interested parties.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://mediaroom.virgintrains.co.uk/2006/10/new-cross-country-franchise_1218.html |title = New Cross Country Franchise Specification Issued |publisher = Virgin Trains |date = 31 October 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110904011531/http://mediaroom.virgintrains.co.uk/2006/10/new-cross-country-franchise_1218.html |archive-date = 4 September 2011 }} </ref>

During September 2006, the [[Department for Transport]] announced the shortlist for the New CrossCountry franchise, which included Virgin Rail Group.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://mediaroom.virgintrains.co.uk/2006/10/new-cross-country-franchise_1218.html |title = New Cross Country Franchise Specification Issued |publisher = Virgin Trains |date = 31 October 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110904011531/http://mediaroom.virgintrains.co.uk/2006/10/new-cross-country-franchise_1218.html |archive-date = 4 September 2011 }}</ref> In October 2006, the DfT issued the [[Call for bids|invitation to tender]] (ITT) to the four shortlisted bidders: [[Arriva]], [[FirstGroup]], [[National Express]] and Virgin Rail Group.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/passenger/invitationtotender/integratednewcrosscounty.pdf |title = New Cross Country Franchise Invitation to Tender |website = dft.gov.uk |publisher = Department for Transport |date = October 2006 |url-status = dead |archive-url = http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100409101301/http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/passenger/invitationtotender/integratednewcrosscounty.pdf |archive-date = 9 April 2010}}</ref> On 10 July 2007, the Department for Transport awarded the new CrossCountry franchise to [[Arriva UK Trains|Arriva]]; accordingly, the services operated by Virgin CrossCountry were transferred over to the newly created operator, named [[CrossCountry]], on 11 November 2007.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/passenger/franchises/ncc/winnernewcrosscounty |title = Department for Transport announces winner of New Cross Country franchise |publisher = Department for Transport |date = 10 July 2007 |access-date = 17 September 2012 |archive-date = 9 May 2011 |archive-url = http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110509101621/http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/passenger/franchises/ncc/winnernewcrosscounty |url-status = bot: unknown }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.arriva.co.uk/arriva/en/media_centre/press_releases/2007/2007-07-10/ |title = Arriva welcomes new CrossCountry rail franchise award |publisher = Arriva |date = 10 July 2007 |access-date = 16 September 2012 |archive-date = 20 May 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120520110346/http://www.arriva.co.uk/arriva/en/media_centre/press_releases/2007/2007-07-10/ |url-status = dead }}</ref>

==Services==
In May 1998, Virgin introduced new services from [[Portsmouth Harbour railway station|Portsmouth Harbour]] to [[Liverpool Lime Street railway station|Liverpool Lime Street]] and [[Blackpool North railway station|Blackpool North]].  The Summer Saturday service to [[Ramsgate railway station|Ramsgate]] ran for the last time in September 1999.<ref>[http://www.1s76.com/1S76%201999.htm 1999 – 2000 Back over the S&C] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120807212923/http://1s76.com/1S76%201999.htm |date=7 August 2012 }} 1s76.com</ref> The Summer Saturday services to [[Weymouth railway station|Weymouth]] ran for the last time in September 2002.<ref>{{cite magazine |title = | magazine = [[Rail Magazine]] |issue = 462 |date = 28 May 2003 |page = 53}}</ref>{{Full citation needed|date=May 2023}}

===Operation Princess===
In September 2002, Virgin Trains launched ''Operation Princess''. This involved introducing a new [[clock-face scheduling|clockface]] timetable with shorter trains running more frequently. However, the new fleet suffered from a number of technical faults which, coupled with infrastructure and capacity issues, led to many problems.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2492385.stm |title = Virgin's catalogue of misfortune |date = 19 November 2002 |access-date = 15 November 2007 |first = Simon |last = Montague |publisher = BBC News |archive-date = 30 July 2004 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20040730202115/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2492385.stm |url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1414879/Virgin-forced-to-replace-new-trains-with-old.html |title = Virgin forced to replace new trains with old |publisher = The Telegraph |date = 1 December 2002 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160920082342/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1414879/Virgin-forced-to-replace-new-trains-with-old.html |archive-date = 20 September 2016 }}</ref> Between September 2002 and January 2003, punctuality fell to 54.1%,<ref>Page 8 Virgin CrossCountry Fact File</ref> it was therefore agreed with the [[Strategic Rail Authority]] that certain services would be cut to improve reliability and robustness on the core network.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.alycidon.com/ALYCIDON%20RAIL/INFORMED%20SOURCES%20ARCHIVE/INF%20SRCS%202003/Informed%20Sources%2001%202003.htm |title = Informed Sources January 2003 |publisher = Alycidon |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120721053036/http://www.alycidon.com/ALYCIDON%20RAIL/INFORMED%20SOURCES%20ARCHIVE/INF%20SRCS%202003/Informed%20Sources%2001%202003.htm |archive-date = 21 July 2012 }}</ref>

When ''Operation Princess'' was launched in September 2002, Virgin CrossCountry served these destinations:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="2" | Code !! Route !! Fate
|-
| VT0 ||  style="background:Turquoise; width:20px;"| || [[Birmingham New Street railway station|Birmingham New Street]] to [[Swindon railway station|Swindon]] via [[Cheltenham Spa railway station|Cheltenham]] || Withdrawn summer 2003<ref name="Timetable">VT3 timetable 2003</ref>
|-
| VT1 ||  style="background:DodgerBlue; width:20px;"| || [[Glasgow Central railway station|Glasgow Central]], [[Edinburgh Waverley railway station|Edinburgh Waverley]] & [[Blackpool North railway station|Blackpool North]] through [[Birmingham New Street railway station|Birmingham New Street]] to [[South West of England]]|| Blackpool North withdrawn summer 2003<ref name="Timetable" />
|-
| VT2 ||  style="background:#228b22; width:20px;"| || [[Aberdeen railway station|Aberdeen]], [[Edinburgh Waverley railway station|Edinburgh Waverley]] & [[Newcastle railway station|Newcastle]] through [[Manchester Piccadilly railway station|Manchester Piccadilly]] and [[Birmingham New Street railway station|Birmingham New Street]] to [[Poole railway station|Poole]] || Services west of [[Bournemouth railway station|Bournemouth]] withdrawn summer 2003<ref name="Timetable" />
|-
| VT3 ||  style="background:DarkMagenta; width:20px;"| || [[Liverpool Lime Street railway station|Liverpool Lime Street]] and [[Manchester Piccadilly railway station|Manchester Piccadilly]], {{stnlnk|Manchester Airport}}, through [[Birmingham New Street railway station|Birmingham New Street]] to [[London Paddington railway station|London Paddington]], [[Portsmouth Harbour railway station|Portsmouth]] and [[Brighton railway station|Brighton]] || Portsmouth and London Paddington withdrawn summer 2003, reduced frequency to Brighton, all Liverpool Lime Street withdrawn winter 2003<ref name="Timetable" /><ref>VT2 timetable 2005</ref>
|-
| VT4 ||  style="background:#ff8c00; width:20px;"| || [[Aberdeen railway station|Aberdeen]] and [[Edinburgh Waverley railway station|Edinburgh Waverley]] through [[Birmingham New Street railway station|Birmingham New Street]] to [[Cardiff Central railway station|Cardiff]], [[Swansea railway station|Swansea]], [[Paignton railway station|Paignton]] and [[Penzance railway station|Penzance]] ||Services west of Cardiff withdrawn summer 2003<ref name="Timetable" />
|}

===Project Omega===

Project Omega was a project which would have seen a series of improvements following the West Coast modernisation.<ref>{{cite magazine |title = West Coast: out of chaos has come order |magazine = [[Rail Magazine]] |issue = 840 |date = 22 November 2017 |pages = 92–97}}</ref> This included Virgin CrossCountry running services from {{rws|London Kings Cross}} to Teesside via {{rws|Nottingham}} and {{rws|York}} and another service from {{rws|Portsmouth Harbour}} to {{rws|Nottingham}} via {{rws|Feltham}} for Heathrow. These services would have been run by the [[British Rail Class 220|Class 220]]. The project also involved extending Virgin's West Coast and CrossCountry franchises by 5 years (both originally planned to end in 2012, so would have been 2017) as well as adding a fifth car to 38 Voyagers.

By the time Virgin Trains lost the CrossCountry franchise to Arriva in 2007, the network consisted of only the following routes:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="2" | Code !! Route
|-
| VT1 ||  style="background:blue; width:20px;"| || [[South West of England]] through [[Birmingham]] to the [[North West of England|North West]] and Scotland
|-
| VT2 ||  style="background:#228b22; width:20px;"| || South Coast through [[Birmingham]] to the [[North of England]] and Scotland
|-
| VT3 ||  style="background:#ff8c00; width:20px;"| || [[South West of England]] and [[South Wales|South East Wales]] through [[Birmingham]] to the [[North East England|North East of England]] and Scotland
|}

==Rolling stock==
[[File:43093 Lady in Red.jpg|thumb|43093 ''Lady in Red'' in Virgin Cross/Country livery at {{rws|Preston}}]]
Virgin CrossCountry inherited a fleet of [[British Rail Class 47|Class 47]] and [[British Rail Class 86|Class 86]] locomotives, [[British Railways Mark 2|Mark 2 Carriages]], [[InterCity 125|High Speed Trains]] and [[British Rail Class 158|Class 158 ''Express Sprinter'']] [[diesel multiple unit]]s from [[British Rail]]. Class 47s on hire from [[DB Cargo UK|English Welsh & Scottish]] and [[FM Rail|Fragonset]] were also fairly common.

A franchise commitment was the replacement of these trains with new stock. In December 1998 Virgin signed a deal to lease 78 ''Voyager'' [[Diesel multiple unit#Diesel–electric|diesel–electric multiple unit]]s built by [[Bombardier Transportation]], consisting of 34 four-carriage [[British Rail Class 220|Class 220 ''Voyagers'']] and 40 five-carriage and four four-carriage [[British Rail Class 221|Class 221 ''Super Voyagers'']].<ref>[http://www.lococarriage.org.uk/virgin_trains.htm From Dream to Reality] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121216034358/http://www.lococarriage.org.uk/virgin_trains.htm |date=16 December 2012 }} ''The Locomotive & Carriage Institution'' 5 November 2002</ref> The Super Voyagers were built with [[tilting train|tilting]] mechanisms to enable higher speeds on curved tracks, including on the [[West Coast Main Line]] and between [[Oxford railway station|Oxford]] and [[Banbury railway station|Banbury]].<ref>{{cite magazine |title= |magazine = [[Rail Magazine]] |issue= 447 |date=30 October 2002 |page=11}}</ref>{{Full citation needed|date=May 2023}} The four-carriage Super Voyagers were intended for use by [[Virgin Trains|Virgin West Coast]] on services from [[London Euston railway station|London Euston]] to [[Holyhead railway station|Holyhead]], although they ended up being pooled with the other Voyagers. When Virgin West Coast started using Super Voyagers on Holyhead services in September 2004, the five-carriage units were used.

The first Class 220 Voyager arrived from [[Belgium]] in January 2001 and entered service on 21 May 2001.<ref>{{cite magazine |title = |magazine = Rail Magazine |issue = 425 |date = 26 December 2001 |page = 36}}</ref> The last Class 47s, Class 86s and Mark 2 carriages were withdrawn in August 2002, while the Express Sprinters were transferred to [[Wessex Trains]] and [[First TransPennine Express]].

After experiencing rapid growth Virgin CrossCountry decided to retain some High Speed Train sets. During December 2001, it announced plans to refurbish eight HSTs as [[British Rail Classes 253, 254 and 255|''Virgin Challengers'']] for use on proposed services from [[London Paddington station|London Paddington]] to [[Manchester Piccadilly station|Manchester Piccadilly]] via [[Cheltenham Spa railway station|Cheltenham]], with the option to refurbish more.<ref>{{cite magazine |title = | magazine = [[Rail Magazine]] |issue = 425 |date = 26 December 2001 |page = 10}}</ref>{{Full citation needed|date=May 2023}} In the wake of the collapse of ''Operation Princess'',<ref>{{cite web |title = Select Committee on Transport Fourth Report |url = https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200203/cmselect/cmtran/782/78209.htm |publisher = UK Parliament |access-date = 5 September 2017 |archive-date = 5 September 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170905182914/https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200203/cmselect/cmtran/782/78209.htm |url-status = live}}</ref> the project was cancelled with the remaining HSTs withdrawn in September 2003 on the instruction of the [[Strategic Rail Authority]].<ref>[http://www.125group.org.uk/index.php?module=htmlpages&func=display&pid=9 Privatisation 1993–2005] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930192229/http://www.125group.org.uk/index.php?module=htmlpages&func=display&pid=9 |date=30 September 2011 }} 125 Group</ref>

To provide extra stock for services on summer Saturday services to [[Paignton railway station|Paignton]] and [[Newquay railway station|Newquay]], Virgin CrossCountry hired HSTs from Virgin West Coast, [[Midland Mainline (train operating company)|Midland Mainline]] and [[Great North Eastern Railway]] (GNER),<ref>[http://www.tauntontrains.co.uk/HST.htm The High Speed Train] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170730063637/http://www.tauntontrains.co.uk/HST.htm |date=30 July 2017}} Taunton Trains</ref> and [[British Rail Mark 3|Mark 3B loco-hauled carriages]] from Virgin West Coast. In 2004, Virgin hired [[British Rail Class 67|Class 67]] locomotives from EWS and Mark 2 carriages from [[Riviera Trains]] to operate summer Saturday services to Paignton.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.riviera-trains.co.uk/about_us.htm |title = History |publisher = Riviera Trains |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090329114628/http://www.riviera-trains.co.uk/about_us.htm |archive-date=29 March 2009}} </ref>

A standby set of Mark 2 carriages was leased from Riviera Trains from September 2004.<ref>{{cite magazine |title= |magazine= Rail Magazine |issue= 496 |date= 15 September 2004 |page= 7}}</ref> This set was usually used with an EWS [[British Rail Class 90|Class 90]] locomotive between [[Birmingham New Street railway station|Birmingham New Street]] and Manchester Piccadilly, although it did run to [[Newcastle railway station|Newcastle]] with a [[British Rail Class 57|Class 57/3]] in January 2007.

HSTs were hired from Midland Mainline and GNER on a number of occasions to operate services from [[Edinburgh Waverley railway station|Edinburgh Waverley]] to [[Plymouth railway station|Plymouth]] when Voyagers were unavailable.

===Original fleet===
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background:#f9f9f9;"
! Class
! Image
! Type
! Built
! Withdrawn
! Notes
|-
|[[British Rail Class 43 (HST)|Class 43]]
|[[File:Hornby HST 43087-02.jpg|100px]]
|[[Diesel locomotive]]
|1976–1982
|2003
|Operated with Mark 3 carriages.
|-
|[[British Rail Class 47|Class 47]]
|[[File:47817 The Institution of Mechanical Engineers at Exeter St Davids.jpg|100px]]
|[[Diesel locomotive]]
|1962–1968
|2002
|Operated with Mark 2 carriages. Some of these were rebuilt as {{brc|57}}/3 locomotives.
|-
|[[British Rail Class 86|Class 86]]
|[[File:86229 'Lions Club International' at Birmingham New Street.jpg|100px]]
|[[Electric locomotive]]
|1965–1966
|2002
|Operated with Mark 2 carriages.
|-
|[[British Rail Class 158|Class 158 ''Express Sprinter'']]
|[[File:158751 at Westbury.JPG|100px]]
|[[Diesel multiple unit|DMU]]
|1989–1992
|2003
|
|-
|[[British Railways Mark 2|Mark 2 carriage]]
|[[File:BR Mk.IIf TSO No.5934 (6731878621).jpg|100px]]
|[[Passenger carriage]]
|1964–1975
|2002
|Operated with Class 47 and 86 locomotives.
|-
|[[British Rail Mark 3|Mark 3 carriage]]
|[[File:BR Mk.IIIa FO No.11027 (6790554465).jpg|100px]]
|[[Passenger carriage]]
|1975–1982
|2003
|Operated with Class 43 locomotives.
|}

===Final fleet===
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background:#f9f9f9;"
! rowspan="2" |Class
! rowspan="2" |Image
! rowspan="2" |Type
! colspan="2" |Top speed
! rowspan="2" |Built
! rowspan="2" |Number
|- style="background:#f9f9f9;"
!mph
!km/h
|-
|[[British Rail Class 220|Class 220 ''Voyager'']]
|[[File:Virgin Voyager 220003 2005-06-09 05.jpg|100px]]
|[[Diesel multiple unit#Diesel–electric|DEMU]]
|125
|200
|2000–2001
|34
|-
|[[British Rail Class 221|Class 221 ''Super Voyager'']]
|[[File:Class 221 Virgin Voyager approaching Bristol Parkway westbound 2006-05-03 02.jpg|100px]]
|[[Diesel multiple unit#Diesel–electric|DEMU]]
|125
|200
|2001–2002
|44
|}

===Planned fleet (never built)===

{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background:#f9f9f9;"
! Class
! Image
! Type
! Built
! Number
! Information
|-
|[[British Rail Class 255|Class 255 ''Virgin Challenger'']]
|
|[[Diesel multiple unit|DMU]]
|2002 (planned refurbishment)
|14 (planned)
|Planned refurbishment of the High Speed Train to be used on services between Blackpool, Manchester and Birmingham, and Paddington to Birmingham via Swindon. These plans came to naught as the Strategic Rail Authority planned to transfer most of the stock to Midland Mainline for their London-Manchester 'Rio' services.<ref>[http://www.125group.org.uk/index.php?module=htmlpages&func=display&pid=9 Privatisation 1993 – 2005] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930192229/http://www.125group.org.uk/index.php?module=htmlpages&func=display&pid=9 |date=30 September 2011 }} – 125 Group</ref>
|}

==See also==
* [[Passenger rail franchising in Great Britain]]
* [[Cross Country Route]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category-inline|Virgin CrossCountry}}
{{S-start}}
{{S-bef|before=[[InterCity (British Rail)|InterCity]]'''<br />As part of [[British Rail]]'''}}
{{s-ttl|title=Operator of InterCity CrossCountry franchise
|years=1997–2007}}
{{S-aft|after=[[CrossCountry]]<br />New CrossCountry franchise}}
{{end}}
<br />
{{UK TOCs|defunct|state=collapsed}}

{{Virgin Group}}
{{StagecoachGroup}}

[[Category:Defunct train operating companies in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Railway companies established in 1997]]
[[Category:Railway companies disestablished in 2007]]
[[Category:Former Stagecoach Group rail services]]
[[Category:Virgin Trains]]
[[Category:British companies established in 1997]]
[[Category:British companies disestablished in 2007]]