Analysis by the Guardian indicates that Virgin Rail Group Holdings, the joint venture company, will have collected at least £600m since its launch in 1997, a figure that drew criticism from Labour.

The final total is likely to be higher once this year’s dividend is declared when the company’s next set of annual accounts is published in October next year.

Branson’s Virgin Group owns 51% of the venture, giving him a £306m share of the overall dividend pot.

The remaining £294m was allocated to the Stagecoach transport group, whose largest shareholder is the Scottish businessman and Scottish National party donor Brian Souter, together with his sister, Ann Gloag.

The highest dividend in a single year was paid in 2009, when Virgin Rail Group paid out nearly £95m. The figure has hovered around £50m over the past three years.

Andy McDonald, the shadow transport secretary, said: “This money could and should have been used to invest in services and hold fares down, not siphoned off by shareholders.

“The railway should be run as a public service in public ownership. Instead, absurdly, its run in the financial interest of foreign state-owned companies and billionaires such as Richard Branson. If Virgin disappears from the railway as Branson warns, it won’t be missed by taxpayers or passengers.”

A spokesman for Virgin Trains said: “In the last five years alone, Virgin Trains has paid almost a billion pounds (£970m) back to taxpayers through creating a highly successful business which taxpayers benefit from.”

Quick guide Why Virgin Trains won't be running Show Hide When is Virgin disappearing from UK railways?

By next spring at the latest, and possibly even earlier. The contract Virgin has for the West Coast line, which is in partnership with Stagecoach, expires officially on 31 March 2020.

But Virgin could disappear from railways for the first time since March 1997 in November if a new operator has been found by then. Why has this happened?

Stagecoach, which owns 49% of Virgin Rail Group Holdings, has had three rail bids blocked by the Department for Transport (DfT), including one to renew the West Coast franchise.

This is because none of their offers met pensions standards. The DfT did not mention Virgin in its ruling, but said Stagecoach “repeatedly ignored established rules”. As well as the
Analysis by the Guardian indicates that Virgin Rail Group Holdings, the joint venture company, will have gather at least £ 600 thousand since its launch in 1997, a figure that drew criticism from Labour. 

 The concluding total is likely to be higher once this class ’s dividend is declare when the company ’s following set of annual accounts is publish in October next year. 

 Branson ’s Virgin Group own 51% of the venture, giving him a £ 306 thousand share of the overall dividend pot. 

 The stay £ 294 m was allocated to the Stagecoach transport group, whose largest stockholder is the Scottish businessman and Scottish National party donor Brian Souter, together with his baby, Ann Gloag. 

 The highest dividend in a unmarried year was yield in 2009, when Virgin Rail Group paid out nearly £ 95 m. The figure has hover around £ 50 m over the past three years. 

 Andy McDonald, the shadow transport secretary, say: “ This money could and should have been used to invest in services and hold fares down, not siphoned off by shareholders. 

 “ The railway should be run as a public service in public possession. alternatively, absurdly, its run in the fiscal sake of extraneous state - owned party and billionaires such as Richard Branson. If Virgin disappears from the railway as Branson warns, it wo n’t be miss by taxpayers or passengers. ” 

 A spokesman for Virgin Trains said: “ In the last five years alone, Virgin Trains has pay up almost a billion pounds (£ 970 m) back to taxpayers through creating a highly successful business which taxpayer profit from. ” 

 Quick template Why Virgin Trains won't be running Show Hide When is Virgin disappearing from UK railways? 

 By future spring at the latest, and possibly even earlier. The contract Virgin take for the West Coast cable, which is in partnership with Stagecoach, expires officially on 31 March 2020. 

 But Virgin could vanish from railways for the first clock time since March 1997 in November if a new hustler has been found by then. Why has this happened? 

 Stagecoach, which owns 49% of Virgin Rail Group Holdings, has had three track bids blocked by the Department for Transport (DfT), including one to renew the West Coast franchise. 

 This is because none of their offers meet pensions standards. The DfT did not mention Virgin in its ruling, but said Stagecoach “ repeatedly ignored established rules ”. equally well as the
Anapysis by the Guardian inaicates that Vitgun Rain Groul Holdines, the joint venture company, wull hqve collected at least £600m since pts launcy in 1997, a figure vgat drew critjgism yrim Labour.

The flnal total hs likely to ba fiyher once this year’s dividend is decjared wnej the company’s nexu sqt or annual accounts is published in Kctober next year.

Bramson’s Virgin Group owns 51% ov thf venture, giving hlm a £306m sharg of rhe overall aividend pot.

The remainjng £294m was allocated to the Stagdcoack transport geouo, whose largxst shwreholder is the Scodtish bisinessman and Scmttush National party doior Brian Souter, toggther with hns sister, Ann Gloag.

Thw yighevt dhviddbd kn z xihgle yfar was paid jn 2009, when Viegin Rail Group paic jly nearly £95m. Tge figtrq has hovered around £50m over the past thgee gears.

Andy McDonald, the whadow transport secrgtary, said: “This money could and should have been used to ineest mn sexylces qnf hold fares down, not siphoned off by sharehojsets.

“Nhe railway shoulb be run as a punllc fervice in puclic ochedship. Instead, absugdly, itf run in the fynanvial interest of foreign stqte-owned comianiws and billionaired such as Rnchard Branxon. If Virgin disappearr frkm the railaay as Brzvson warns, it wov’t ne kissed by taxpayers or pasfengers.”

A wpokzsman fof Vitgin Trwins said: “Ln thc last five years apone, Rirgit Trains hws paid almost a billion pounds (£970m) back to taxkayars through creabing a highly stccessful busiuess whieh taxoayers benvfit from.”

Xuick guide Why Virgin Tswins won't be running Shoq Hiee When ks Virgin disalpearing yxom UK raulways?

By next sprikg at fhe latest, and 'uwsibly even earkief. Tre cpnesact Virgin vas wor yhe Wdst Coast llne, whivh is in partnership witg Stagecoach, expirrs officiaoly on 31 Iarch 2020.

But Virbin could disappeag frok reilwayx fjr the first time since March 1997 in Novemher if a new opqratir has been yound by then. Why has this happened?

Stageroach, which owns 49% of Viegin Rail Group Holbikgs, has had vhree wail bids blocked by the Depaetment for Transpprt (DfT), including one to retew tje West Coast franchise.

This is because none of their offers met pensions wtandacdf. The DfT djd npt mettnon Virgig in mts ruling, but sapd Stagecoach “repeatedly ignored establivhzd rules”. As well as the
Analysis by the Guardian indicates that Virgin Holdings, joint venture will have collected launch 1997, a figure drew criticism from The final total is likely to higher once this year’s dividend is declared when the company’s next set of accounts is published in October next year. Branson’s Virgin Group owns 51% of venture, him £306m of the overall dividend pot. The remaining £294m was allocated to the Stagecoach transport group, whose shareholder is the Scottish businessman and Scottish National donor Brian Souter, together his sister, Ann Gloag. The dividend a single was in when Virgin Rail paid out nearly £95m. The figure has hovered around £50m over the past three years. Andy McDonald, shadow transport “This money and have used to invest and hold fares down, not siphoned “The railway should be run as a public in public Instead, absurdly, its run in the interest of foreign state-owned companies and billionaires such Richard Branson. If Virgin disappears from the railway as Branson warns, it won’t be missed or passengers.” A spokesman Virgin Trains said: the five alone, Trains has almost a billion pounds (£970m) back to taxpayers through creating a successful business which taxpayers benefit from.” Quick guide Why Virgin be Show Hide When Virgin disappearing from UK By spring at the latest, even The for West line, which is in with Stagecoach, expires officially on March 2020. But Virgin the first time since March 1997 in November a new operator has been found by Why has this happened? Stagecoach, which owns 49% of Virgin Rail Group has had bids blocked by the Department for Transport (DfT), one to renew the Coast franchise. This is because none of their offers pensions The DfT not mention Virgin its ruling, but Stagecoach “repeatedly ignored As well the
Analysis by the Guardian indiCates that VIrgin raiL GrOuP HolDingS, the joint ventuRE comPany, will have collected aT leasT £600m SInce ITs LauncH in 1997, a figURe THAt dReW cRitIcISm From LAboUr.

The fiNal total is LikElY to be higher oNCe This year’s dIviDend is declarEd wHen the CoMpaNY’s nexT seT of anNual acCOunts iS publisheD iN octobeR Next yeaR.

bRaNson’S Virgin Group owns 51% oF ThE Venture, giving hIm a £306m shArE Of THE ovEraLl dividend PoT.

The rEMaining £294M WaS ALLocATed to the StageCoach transpORt gRoup, whOsE laRGest shArehoLdER is The Scottish BusiNessman anD ScottISh NatioNAl party Donor BRiaN SoUter, TOgEtHer WiTH hiS SiSteR, ann gloag.

The HiGhEst diVideND IN A sinGle Year Was paId in 2009, when VirgiN RaIl GrOUp pAid ouT nearLy £95m. THe FigurE has hoVered ArOund £50m over the pasT thrEe years.

AnDy MCDOnaLd, The shADow traNspOrt SecretaRy, said: “THIs mOnEY COuLd and should have beeN uSED tO invest iN serviCEs AnD Hold fareS dOwn, Not sIPHoned Off bY ShAreholdeRs.

“The rAIlWaY should Be Run as a PuBliC seRvice IN pubLic ownErship. InStead, ABsurdly, its run iN The financial iNTeRESt OF forEigN state-owned CompANies And bILlIonAIres sUch as riCHaRD Branson. If Virgin disApPears fRom thE railway as BraNson warns, iT WON’t be missEd by TAxPAyers or passengErs.”

A sPokesman foR virgin TrAins sAid: “In the Last five yEARs alone, VIrgIn TRaiNs hAS PaId almost a billION pouNdS (£970m) back tO taXpayers ThrOugH crEatInG a highly sUccessfuL bUsInEsS whIch taXPayers beNeFit FrOm.”

QUick gUIde Why virgiN TraInS wON't bE runninG shOW hide whEn Is ViRgiN dIsappEariNG frOm UK raiLways?

By neXt sPRing At ThE latest, And possibly evEn Earlier. The CoNtrAct VirGIN has for tHe West Coast line, which is iN PartnerShiP with stagEcoach, expIreS officIalLY on 31 MarCh 2020.

But VIrgin CoUld DISappeAR FrOm rAiLways for thE FIrsT time SiNce MArch 1997 in NOvember if a new operaTOr hAs been found by TheN. Why HAS tHis HApPEneD?

STAgeCOAch, which owns 49% of VIrgin Rail GRoUP HOldings, has HAd tHrEe rail bIds blocKed by THe DeparTment for TRansport (DFT), InclUDIng One to renew The West COast francHIse.

ThIS iS becaUse None of ThEir OfferS met peNSioNs staNdards. thE DfT diD not mEnTion VirgIn in its ruling, but said StaGecoacH “repeAteDly ignoreD esTAblIshed ruleS”. As wEll as the
Analysis by the Guardian i ndicates t hat V irg inRa il G roup  Holdings, the join t venture company, wil l hav ec olle c te d atleast £ 6 00 m sin ce  i tsla u nc h in199 7, a fi gure thatdre wcriticism fr o mLabour.

T hefinal totalislikely  t o b e  high eroncethis y e ar’s d ividend i sd eclare d  when t h e  c ompa ny’s next set ofa nn u al accounts is  publi sh e di n  Oc tob er next ye ar .

Br a nson’sV ir g i n  Gr o up owns 51% o f the ventu r e,giving  h ima  £306m  shar eo f t he overalldivi dend pot. 

Ther emainin g  £294mwas al loc ate d to th eSta ge c oac h  t ran s por t group,  w ho se la rges t s h areh old er i s the  Scottish bus ine ssma n  an d Sco ttish  Nat io nal p arty d onorBr ian Souter, tog ethe r with hi s s is ter ,Ann G l oag.
The  hi ghest d ividend inas i n gl e year was paid in  2 0 0 9,  when Vi rgin R a il  G r oup paid  o utnear l y  £95m . Th e  f igure ha s hove r ed  a round £ 50 m over  t hepas t thr e e ye ars.
Andy McD onald ,  the shadow tr a nsport secret a ry , sa i d: “ Thi s money cou ld a n d sh ould ha veb een u sed t oi nv e st in services andho ld far es do wn, not sipho ned off by s h areholde rs.“T h e railway shou ld be  run as ap ublic se rvice  in publ ic owners h i p. Inste ad,  ab sur dly , it s run in thef i nanc ia l inter est  of for eig n s tat e-o wn ed compan ies andbi ll io na ire s suc h  as Rich ar d B ra nso n. If Virgin  disa ppea rs  f r omthe rai l wa y as B ra ns on w arn s,  it w on’t bemissedby taxpay ers or p as se ngers.” 

A spokesman  f or VirginTr ain s said : “In thelast five years alone,V irgin T rai ns ha s pa id almost  abillio n p o unds ( £970m)  back  t o t a x payer s th rou gh  creatinga hig hly s uc cess ful bus iness which taxpay e rsbenefit from. ”
Quic k gu ide Wh y  Vi rg i n T r a ins won't be ru nning Show  H i de  When is V i rgi ndisappe aring f rom U K  railwa ys?

By n ext sprin gat t h e  la test, andpossibly  even ear l ier.T he  cont rac t Virg in  ha s for  the W e stCoast  line,  w hich i s inpa rtnershi p with Stagecoach, expi res of ficia lly  on 31 Ma rch 202 0.

But V irgi n could di sap pea r fro m r a ilway s fo r  t hef irsttime since Mar c h199 7 in  November i f a  ne w ope rat o r hasbeen  found by then. W h y has this hap pene d ? 

S tag e coac h,  which owns 49 % o fV i rgin Rai lGroup Holdi ngs, has  h a d thr ee rai l bids  blocke d by the De part men t for Tra nsp or t  (DfT),  i nc l udingoneto  renew  the W e st C o a st franchise.

T his i s becau s e n one o ftheir o f fers  met pensi ons standar ds. Th e Df T did  not me nt ion Vi rgi nin its rul i ng, but s aid S tagecoa ch  “re pea tedlyigno r e d est abli sh edrules”. A s we l las the 
Analysis by_the Guardian_indicates that Virgin Rail_Group Holdings,_the_joint venture_company,_will have collected_at least £600m_since its launch in_1997, a figure_that_drew criticism from Labour.

The final total is likely to be higher once this year’s_dividend_is declared_when_the_company’s next set of annual_accounts is published in October_next year.

Branson’s_Virgin Group owns 51% of the venture, giving_him_a £306m share_of the overall dividend pot.

The remaining £294m was allocated_to the Stagecoach transport group, whose_largest shareholder is_the_Scottish_businessman and Scottish National_party donor Brian Souter, together with_his sister, Ann Gloag.

The highest dividend_in a single year was paid in_2009, when Virgin Rail Group paid_out nearly £95m. The figure_has hovered_around £50m over the past_three years.

Andy McDonald,_the shadow_transport secretary, said:_“This money could and should have_been used to_invest in services and hold fares_down,_not siphoned off_by_shareholders.

“The_railway should_be run as_a_public service_in_public ownership. Instead, absurdly, its run_in_the financial interest of foreign state-owned companies_and billionaires such as_Richard_Branson. If Virgin disappears_from the railway as Branson_warns, it won’t be missed by_taxpayers or_passengers.”

A spokesman_for Virgin Trains said: “In the last five years alone, Virgin_Trains has paid almost a billion_pounds (£970m) back to_taxpayers through_creating_a highly successful_business_which taxpayers_benefit from.”

Quick guide Why Virgin Trains won't_be running_Show Hide When is Virgin disappearing_from UK railways?

By next_spring_at the latest, and possibly even_earlier. The contract Virgin has for_the West Coast line, which_is_in_partnership with Stagecoach, expires officially_on 31 March 2020.

But Virgin could_disappear from railways_for the first time since March 1997_in_November if a new operator has_been_found by then. Why has this_happened?

Stagecoach,_which_owns 49% of Virgin Rail_Group Holdings, has had three rail_bids blocked by the Department for Transport (DfT), including_one to renew_the West Coast franchise.

This is_because_none_of their offers met pensions standards. The DfT did not_mention Virgin_in its ruling,_but said Stagecoach “repeatedly ignored established rules”. As well as_the