Christmas and New Year services on Virgin Trains

Virgin Trains is reminding passengers to check train times and book seats in plenty of time as services around the holiday period on all their routes are likely to be very busy. There has been a 20 percent year-on-year increase in Advance ticket sales. Seats can be booked when purchasing tickets online at virgintrains.com, by phone on 08457 222 333, or in person at Virgin Trains stations. Train times can be checked by visiting nationalrail.co.uk or calling 08457 48 49 50.

Apart from Christmas Day and Boxing Day when there will be no services, trains will be running every day.

Day by day summary of services

24 December: Normal Thursday service. Services reduced from early evening in preparation for a mid-evening shutdown.

25 and 26 December: No services.

27 December: Normal Sunday service. Some early morning trains withdrawn. Full service from mid-morning. Wilmslow will be served by rail replacement coach services all day because of route improvement work.

28 December:: Normal Monday service. Wilmslow will be served by rail replacement coach services all day because of route improvement work.

29 and 30 December: Normal weekday service.

31 December: Normal Thursday service. Services reduced from early evening in preparation for a mid-evening shutdown.

1 January: Some early morning services withdrawn. Normal weekday service from mid-morning.

2 and 3 January: Normal Saturday and Sunday services. No route improvement work.

4 January onwards: Normal weekday service, except that the 22:30 and 23:30 London Euston to Wolverhampton services will both terminate at Birmingham New Street.

Ticketing

Time restrictions on Off-Peak tickets will be lifted from 24 December to 3 January inclusive while First Class upgrades will be available from Train Managers at £15.00 from 27 December through until 3 January.

Super Off Peak walk up tickets at just £14.50 can be bought at ticket offices from 29 December to 3 January inclusive for journeys in either direction between London Euston and Rugby, Coventry, Birmingham International, and Birmingham New Street. They are also available in either direction from Watford Junction and Milton Keynes Central to Coventry, Birmingham International and Birmingham New Street. These bargain tickets do carry time restrictions; customers should enquire when booking.

Train catering in First Class

Although the full First Class catering offer will be withdrawn between 27 December and 3 January, First Class customers travelling on Pendolino trains will receive at their seats a selection of hot drinks, water, crisps, biscuits and fresh fruit. First Class customers travelling on Super Voyagers can collect refreshments from The Shop at weekends and between 27 December and 3 January.