(22 Sep 2015, 10:10 pm)LeeCalder wrote On Saturday, Virgin Trains dropped the "East Coast" part of the name. Therefore meaning that the TOC is now called Virgin Trains and not Virgin Trains East Coast.
However, the code will remain as 'GR' which actuallty stands for GNER!
The dropping of the 'East Coast' part is to do with reducing confusion for customers. A quick look at both VTWC and VTEC Twitter accounts will show a rather large number of complaints/messages being sent to the wrong TOC.
"GR" is the ATOC code which relates to the franchise, not the operator. With GNER being the first operator to run the franchise since privatisation, this has stuck - likewise with Virgin Trains running the West Coast since privatisation.
"NT" for Northern Rail too; since they were originally Arriva Trains Northern since privatisation until 2004; running as Northern Spirit (with the exception of TransPennine Express services) since 1998.
Why others have changed since; such as London Midland being LM - this may have been to do with the splitting or formation of other franchises. London Midland was formed from Central Trains and Silverlink when it was formed in 2007.
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