Virgin in West Coast extension talks

Virgin Rail, the joint venture between Virgin and the transport group Stagecoach, is in talks with the Department for Transport about an extension to the West Coast rail franchise agreement.

The franchise, which is currently run by Virgin Rail through its Virgin Trains brand, was due to expire in March next year. Stagecoach said the talks, which followed an approach from the Department for Transport, involve the terms of an extension that would see the agreement run until early December 2012.