Market debut for world’s biggest polluter must be a rallying cry for climate action
Aramco’s flotation may have been scaled down, but it shows that capitalism and carbon still go hand in glove
Tilting tech and talking toilets: the good and bad of Virgin Trains
Virgin Trains reaches the end of the line on Saturday. How will it be remembered?
November 2019
West coast train services to be rebranded with Avanti logo
Virgin Trains’ new operators to rename service ‘ready and fit for the future’ Avanti
All aboard: bosses keep roles as Virgin hands over to First Group
All senior managers retain roles as London to Glasgow West Coast service changes hands
Consumer champions
Virgin West Coast’s ‘return’ ticket turned into a single issue
Our train was delayed but the train company would only refund the outward journey, not the whole return trip
August 2019
FirstGroup consortium to replace Virgin on west coast mainline
London-Glasgow intercity rail services will be joint venture with Trenitalia from December
July 2019
UK railways in chaos as searing heat sparks fear of derailed trains
Operators impose speed limits and axe services amid concern over buckled rails
June 2019
Observer business agenda
Stagecoach gets back on the bus to a smaller future
Gwyn Topham
When Brian Souter’s group reveals results this week, its prospects as a railway operator will be fading fast
May 2019
Virgin Trains takes government to court over West Coast route
Virgin, Stagecoach and SNCF allege DfT breached its duties in barring them from tendering
Why the House of Commons should stay in London and reject radical redesign
Letters: Parliament is not just the debating chamber, writes Dr David Lowry. A round chamber hardly stops fights, writes Robert Frazer, and what about Crewe, asks Consella Fahy
Arriva takes UK to court over East Midlands rail franchise
Stagecoach launches legal action over rail franchise competition ban
Richard Branson calls for suspension of rail franchise competitions
April 2019
Virgin Trains calls for airline-style fares and seating for all
Virgin Trains and avoiding chaos
Business leader
How (gravy) train operators make millions while failing to pay their way
Brief letters
Cabinet cats are the purrfect distraction
Nils Pratley on finance
Exit of Virgin Trains leaves behind a muddle over pension liabilities
Nils Pratley
Richard Branson's Virgin Group has made £300m from rail franchises
