http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: First Group to run Edinburgh to London budget rail service en Tue, 19 May 2026 07:18:38 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16385#post-219663 Thu, 12 May 2016 12:33:56 +0000 chdot 219663@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"</p> <p>Perth-based Stagecoach Group - which owns 90% of VTEC - criticised the decision to allow FirstGroup to run competing services.</p> <p>In a statement, Stagecoach chief executive Martin Griffiths said that open access competition with an established franchise was not in the interests of passengers or taxpayers.</p> <p>He said it would assess the ruling from the ORR in detail, and "consider its options".</p> <p>" </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16385#post-219653 Thu, 12 May 2016 11:17:28 +0000 crowriver 219653@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Don't get too excited, won't start until 2021!</p> <p>"A new budget rail service between Edinburgh and London has been given the green light by the Rail Regulator. The 10-year deal will allow First Group to operate five trains a day each way via intermediate stations at Stevenage, Newcastle and Morpeth from 2021. It said average fares would be less than £25 and there would be only one class of carriage."</p> <p><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-36273407" rel="nofollow">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-36273407</a> </p>