East Coast: Data & Information
14th November 2009 – 28th February 2015
East Coast was a subsidiary of Directly Operated Railways, formed by the Department for Transport as an operator of last resort when National Express refused to provide further financial support to its National Express East Coast (NXEC) subsidiary and consequently lost its franchise.
The franchise was re-nationalised on 14th November 2009. Within one year, East Coast's rolling stock began to be re-liveried in a new silver scheme intentionally styled so that future operators of the franchise could easily apply their own branding following their takeover of operations.
From the onset of East Coast's operations, the Ministry of Transport had publicly stated its long term intention for the franchise was for it to be retendered and thus return to a private franchisee; the was originally set to occur by December 2013. However, during March 2013, the Secretary of State for Transport announced that this transfer had been postponed to February 2015 instead.
In January 2014, First Group, Keolis/Eurostar and Stagecoach/Virgin were announced as the shortlisted bidders for the new franchise.
The franchise passed to Virgin Trains East Coast on 1st March 2015.
Read MoreEast Coast was a subsidiary of Directly Operated Railways, formed by the Department for Transport as an operator of last resort when National Express refused to provide further financial support to its National Express East Coast (NXEC) subsidiary and consequently lost its franchise.
The franchise was re-nationalised on 14th November 2009. Within one year, East Coast's rolling stock began to be re-liveried in a new silver scheme intentionally styled so that future operators of the franchise could easily apply their own branding following their takeover of operations.
From the onset of East Coast's operations, the Ministry of Transport had publicly stated its long term intention for the franchise was for it to be retendered and thus return to a private franchisee; the was originally set to occur by December 2013. However, during March 2013, the Secretary of State for Transport announced that this transfer had been postponed to February 2015 instead.
In January 2014, First Group, Keolis/Eurostar and Stagecoach/Virgin were announced as the shortlisted bidders for the new franchise.
The franchise passed to Virgin Trains East Coast on 1st March 2015.
