Editing Virgin Trains (section)

==Operation==
===Sponsorship===
Virgin Trains were [[Carlisle United F.C.]]'s travel sponsor for the 2013–14 season, and for the 2014–15 season they are the club's main shirt sponsor agreeing a further two-year deal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.carlisleunited.co.uk/news/article/virgincrawley28april14-1517323.aspx|title=TRAVEL: First Class from Virgin Trains|date=28 April 2014|publisher=Carlisle United F.C.|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218212244/https://www.carlisleunited.co.uk/news/2014/april/travel-first-class-from-virgin-trains/|archive-date=18 December 2019|access-date=29 April 2014}}</ref> On 5 August 2014 Virgin Trains also agreed to be the shirt sponsor of [[Preston North End F.C.]] on a two-year deal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pnefc.net/news/article/preston-north-end-agree-virgin-trains-partnership-050814-1804614.aspx|title=Preston North End Agree Virgin Trains Partnership|date=5 August 2014|publisher=Preston North End F.C|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218212331/https://www.pnefc.net/news/2014/august/preston-north-end-agree-virgin-trains-partnership/|archive-date=18 December 2019|access-date=4 March 2015}}</ref> Darlington Football Club were also sponsored by Virgin Trains, and the company has also sponsored events such as [[Manchester International Festival]] in 2013.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.virgin.com/travel/virgin-trains-sponsor-manchester-international-festival |title=Virgin Trains sponsor Manchester International Festival |date=10 June 2013 |access-date=29 April 2014 |archive-date=29 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429221647/http://www.virgin.com/travel/virgin-trains-sponsor-manchester-international-festival |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Onboard entertainment===
In July 2016 the integrated infotainment system BEAM was provided on all trains by [[GoMedia]], delivered directly to the passenger's own devices including mobile phones and tablets.<ref>{{cite web |author=Julian Glover |date=9 June 2016 |title=GoMedia extends to Virgin Trains |url=http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2016/06/09/gomedia-extends-to-virgin-trains/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218212153/https://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2016/06/09/gomedia-extends-to-virgin-trains/ |archive-date=18 December 2019 |website=broadbandtvnews.com}}</ref> The system has been described as 'the first in-train entertainment portal in the UK'.<ref>{{cite web |author=Thomas Flanagan |date=23 June 2016 |title=Maxdome content jumps onto trains, but on-board WiFi still hopeless |url=http://rethinkresearch.biz/articles/maxdome-content-jumps-onto-trains-board-wifi-still-hopeless/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202001037/http://rethinkresearch.biz/articles/maxdome-content-jumps-onto-trains-board-wifi-still-hopeless/ |archive-date=2 February 2017 |access-date=18 August 2016 |website=rethinkresearch.biz}}</ref> It offered premium movies from Hollywood studios, BBC Worldwide etc.

===Moderation of competition===
As a way of protecting the revenues of Virgin Trains to enable it to pay franchise premiums to the government to partly recoup the cost of the [[West Coast Main Line]] upgrade, the [[Office of Rail Regulation]] inserted a ''Moderation of Competition'' in Virgin's Track Access Agreement. Until its expiry in March 2012, this prevented any other train operating or open access companies operating services in competition that would abstract revenue.<ref>[http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/129-acc_rgts.pdf Model Clauses for Track Access Agreements: Access Rights and Moderation of Competition] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006071437/http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/129-acc_rgts.pdf |date=6 October 2008 }} Office of the Rail Regulator June 2001</ref>



=== Attempts to continue ===
In November 2019, Virgin Trains submitted an [[open access operator]] application to the [[Office of Rail and Road]] (ORR) for paths to run trains from London Euston to Liverpool Lime Street with Class 221s once they were released by Avanti West Coast with services to begin in December 2022.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://orr.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/42048/virgin-trains-limited-daft-track-access-contract-form.pdf |title=Contract form |date=27 November 2019 |publisher=orr.gov.uk |access-date=2019-12-30 |archive-date=23 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223232750/https://orr.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/42048/virgin-trains-limited-daft-track-access-contract-form.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> In March 2020, Virgin withdrew its application for the service, citing uncertainty from the Williams Review of rail not having been published yet.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/64836/virgin-withdraws-open-access-rail-bid |title=Virgin withdraws open access rail bid |publisher=transportxtra.com |date=2020-03-23 |access-date=2020-03-27 |archive-date=27 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200327183332/https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/64836/virgin-withdraws-open-access-rail-bid |url-status=live }}</ref>

In May 2024, Virgin Trains submitted an application to the ORR applying for paths from London Euston to Birmingham New Street, [[Manchester Victoria railway station|Manchester Victoria]], [[Rochdale railway station|Rochdale]], Liverpool Lime Street and Glasgow Central.<ref>[https://www.virgin.com/about-virgin/virgin-group/news/virgin-group-applies-for-open-access-rail-paths Virgin Group applies for Open Access Rail Paths] Virgin Group 23 May 2024</ref>