Private company

Virgin Rail Group

British rail franchise operator

WCT Group Limited, until 2021 under the name Virgin Rail Group Limited, is a British rail transport company that was formed in 1996 by the Virgin Group to bid for rail franchises in the United Kingdom during the privatisation of British Rail.2 It was founded by Richard Branson.1 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 20, 2026.

Overview

1996Founded1

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390029 'City of Stoke-on-Trent' at Birmingham New Street
Photo: CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons3

WCT Group Limited, until 2021 under the name Virgin Rail Group Limited, is a British rail transport company that was formed in 1996 by the Virgin Group to bid for rail franchises in the United Kingdom during the privatisation of British Rail.2

The story

Founded by Richard Branson in 1996.1

Leadership

Who has led Virgin Rail Group, and when. Pick a name to see everywhere that person has worked.

Subsidiaries and ownership

Owners

From Wikidata.1

Timeline

  1. 1996Founded Founded1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

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