The Independent is reporting that Virgin Trains may face an additional hurdle in its bid for the East Coast mainline, "one of the country’s prestige rail routes."

If his Virgin Trains were to be awarded the franchise between London and Edinburgh, it would give Sir Richard control of all three long-distance rail services to Scotland. Virgin Trains, which is 49 per cent owned by Stagecoach, already operates the West Coast mainline from London to Glasgow and Cross Country Trains, which also serves parts of Scotland.

A Virgin spokesperson noted that train travel accounted for less than ten percent of all travel between London, Edinburgh, and Glasgow. Still interesting to see that Virgin Trains has nearly effected monopoly situations in certain routes. Pretty impressive.