Timetable changes from 13 December

Following the introduction of a new West Coast timetable last year, there are relatively few changes this December with the basic pattern of service remaining the same. We have however worked with Network Rail and other train operators to identify changes that can sensibly be made within the current framework of the timetable and the following is a list of the principal alterations.

Mondays to Fridays – Northbound

· 05:35 London Euston to Liverpool Lime St departs at 05:27
· 05:47 London Euston to Glasgow Central departs at 05:39
· 18:46 Friday Only service London Euston to Preston calls additionally Crewe at 21:01
· 19:30 London Euston to Glasgow Central ceases to call at Crewe
· 19:40 London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly calls additionally at Crewe at 21:21
· 22:43 London Euston to Wolverhampton departs earlier at 22:30 and arrives Wolverhampton at 01:03
· 23:43 London Euston to Wolverhampton departs earlier at 23:30
· Most London Euston to Chester and/or North Wales services will convey customers to Milton Keynes Central (7 days a week).

Weekend alterations to the main timetable include rail replacement coaches on Sundays between Rhyl and Crewe from 7 February until 28 March 2010, and extensive route improvement work north of Preston at weekends between the same dates.

Mondays to Fridays – Southbound

· 05:20 Wolverhampton to London Euston departs later at 0524 and arrives Euston earlier at 07:13
· 19:58 Preston to London Euston arrives Euston earlier at 22:22
· 20:15 Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston arrives Euston earlier at 22:33
· 20:47 Wolverhampton to London Euston arrives Euston earlier at 22:43
· 20:50 Birmingham New Street to London Euston arrives Euston earlier at 22:16
· 20:10 Glasgow Central to Crewe calls additionally Carstairs at 20:36 on Mondays to Thursdays to make a connection with a Trans Pennine service from Edinburgh thereby providing a later service from the Scottish capital for stations to Carlisle, Preston and Manchester . On Fridays there is a direct service from Edinburgh to Manchester.
· Most North Wales/Chester to London Euston services will convey customers from Milton Keynes Central to Euston (7 days a week).

Sundays - Southbound
· 1618 Liverpool Lime Street to London Euston calls additionally Lichfield Trent Valley at 17:27 to provide a fast service to London on Sunday afternoons

Weekend alterations to the main timetable include rail replacement coaches on
Sundays between Rhyl and Crewe from 7 February until 28 March 2010, and
Route modernisation work north of Preston at weekends between the same dates.

Route guides can be viewed or downloaded at virgintrains.com and free printed copies of the guides are available at any station served by Virgin Trains.

Individual journey details for travel from 13 December can be checked by visiting nationalrail.co.uk or by calling 08457 48 49 50.

Notes for editors


For further media information contact the Virgin Trains Press Office on 0845 000 3333 or visit our Media Room website at http://mediaroom.virgintrains.co.uk

You can subscribe to receive alerts to new press releases by visiting http://mediaroom.virgintrains.co.uk

Virgin Trains is the brand name of Virgin Rail Group. We have operated the West Coast passenger train franchise since 1997; the current franchise runs to March 2012.

Virgin Rail Group is owned 51 percent by Virgin Group and 49 percent by Stagecoach.

Virgin Trains has been voted Best Rail Company by Travel Weekly magazine and Best UK Domestic Train Service by Business Traveller magazine.

Virgin Trains has been awarded the Global Travel Awards 2009 ‘Best Rail Operator’ Category as voted by Evening Standard readers.

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Virgin Trains backs city bids to host FIFA World Cup™ matches in 2018

Virgin Trains will tomorrow (Thursday 26 November) speed groups of VIPs from the North West to the capital to deliver their cities’ bids to be part of the 2018 FIFA World Cup™.

After travelling on Virgin’s environmentally friendly 125mph tilting trains to Euston, the groups from Liverpool and Manchester will then travel to Wembley stadium where the Football Association will receive their bids.

Both groups have high level involvement from their city councils and football teams.

Tony Collins, Virgin Trains’ Chief Executive said:

‘We have some of the UK’s greatest cities on our route, and I know that they can stage great mass-participation events. We look forward to transporting the world to Liverpool and Manchester for the FIFA World Cup™ in 2018.’

Let us improve our stations, says Sir Richard Branson

Virgin Trains today (17 November)pressed for train operators to be allowed to make major station improvements as it welcomed a Government report calling for stations to be made an investment priority.

Plans to invest £50million in stations were unveiled by Lord Adonis, Secretary of State for Transport, during a fact-finding tour of 10 stations, including five operated by Virgin Trains.

Virgin Trains has previously made clear that investment in stations is urgently required to cope with increasing numbers of customers. Virgin Trains has seen growth in customer numbers of almost 20 percent this year and wants greater investment in its stations to help cope with demand.

Although Virgin Trains’ stations outscored the national average in the latest National Passenger Survey, there is room for massive improvement. Whilst Virgin Trains operates 17 of its stations, it is not allowed to carry out major changes that are required to dilapidated station buildings.

Virgin Trains is working with partners to introduce new car parking for more than 4000 cars, and new lounges and ticket buying facilities at its 17 stations.

Virgin Trains now wants changes to stations to come within the franchise process so that train operators can introduce substantial improvements such as new business meeting rooms, lounges and waiting rooms, as well as other new customer facilities.

Sir Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group, called in May for a major change in the way station improvements are funded.

Today he said: “The private sector has already invested heavily in fleets of new trains, and there is much more that we at Virgin would like to do to add further rail improvements in future.

Stations are clearly in need of major overhaul and, with public finances under constraint, the time is right for the private sector to be even more heavily involved in pioneering projects that would radically change public perceptions.”

Tony Collins, Virgin Trains’ chief executive officer, said: “Our train service is second to none and the growth we are currently seeing reflects the popularity of train travel. But stations are a different story and they need to be the priority of the coming years.

We would relish the chance to make significant changes within our franchise agreement that would bring station standards into line with our trains and I would be keen to discuss with Lord Adonis how quickly this could be achieved.”

- Ends -

For further media information contact the Virgin Trains Press Office on 0845 000 3333 or visit our Media Room website at www.virgintrains.co.uk/about/media-room/

Notes to Editors

In the Spring 2009 National Passenger Survey published by Passenger Focus, Virgin Trains outscored the national average for all 13 'Station Facilities' categories, by an average of 6.4%.

For the 'Facilities and services' category, customers scored Virgin Trains at 64%, compared with a national average of 50%.

Station improvements made to date

Working with industry partners such as Network Rail, Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (GMPTE) and North West Regional Development Agency (NWDA), a large programme of improvements has been delivered at Virgin Trains’ managed stations.

Crewe
• First Class Lounge
• Renewed and enhanced CCTV coverage of station
• Extended parking provision (2005 and 2009)
• Refurbished all toilets on station to modern anti-vandal standard
• Enhanced retail provision across the station
• Replacement of Customer Information System/PA
• Replacement of signage
• Completed DDA Minor works
• Refurbished ticket office
• Carried out electrical remedials across station to bring up to current regulations
• Refurbished staff accommodation.

Warrington Bank Quay
• Ticket office – complete rebuild
• Remodelling of station front and access for road users and pedestrians
• Refurbished all public toilets
• Leveraged inward investment from retailers on station to increase retail on station and refurbish existing
• Replaced Customer Information System//PA
• Renewed and enhanced CCTV coverage of station
• Completed DDA Minor works
• Carried out electrical remedials across station to bring up to current regulations.

Preston
• Refurbished ticket office
• Major investment on retail to bring dilapidated listed building back into public use for shop and bar/restaurant/buffet
• Provision of dedicated customer information office
• Rebuilt toilets to modern standard
• Renewed and enhanced CCTV coverage of station
• Replacement of Customer Information System/PA
• Carried out electrical remedials across station to bring up to current regulations
• Provision of new multi-story car park
• Extensive refurbishment of staff and management accommodation to create an integrated function.

Wigan North Western
• Refurbishment of ticket office
• Refurbished toilets
• Refurbished customer services office
• Renewed and enhanced CCTV coverage of station
• Replacement of Customer Information System/PA
• Carried out electrical remedials across station to bring up to current regulations.

Stockport
• Rebuilt ticket office, concourse and provided lift access
• New platform with lift and waiting room
• Refurbished subway
• Refurbished customer services office
• Refurbished staff accommodation
• Rebuilt toilets to modern anti-vandal standard
• Renewed and enhanced CCTV coverage of station
• Replacement of Customer Information System/ PA
• Carried out electrical remedials across station to bring up to current regulations.

Future improvements we would like to see

The Government has today issued its response to an independent report by the Station Champions, Chris Green and Sir Peter Hall, advising the Government on ways to improve rail stations. Improvements that Virgin Trains would like to see at stations that it manages, which are mentioned in the report, are:

Crewe: Roof repairs, additional car parking, new roof/canopies (including removal of central roof pillars to allow increased line speed on fast lines through station), new ticket office, escalators to platforms, various cladding, toilet upgrade, new retail provision.

Wigan North Western: Additional car parking upgrades to seating, subways, customer information, platform resurfacing, enclose waiting areas on platforms, ticket office upgrade, canopy extensions, toilet upgrade, new retail provision.

Warrington Bank Quay: Additional car parking, platform reconstruction/resurfacing/repairs, enclose waiting areas on platforms, toilet upgrade, new First Class Lounge, various cladding of subways/staircases, new retail provision.

Preston: Additional car parking, subway cladding and lighting, reconfiguration of waiting area on platforms 5&6, lift renewal, extension to platforms 5&6 for 11-car Pendolinos, platform resurfacing on platforms 3,4,5 & 6, de-clutter platforms 1&2, new station front (span across station approach to link access to town centre and shopping centre), new ticket office, new footbridge across all platforms (with associated lifts and escalators), decommission existing footbridge, widen platforms 5/6. new First Class Lounge, new retail facilities

Stockport: Platforms 1,2,3 & 4 re-surfacing, additional car parking, various subway and staircase cladding, roof replacement with modern canopies, new retail facilities, new First Class Lounge on platform 2, toilet upgrade, new customer information point.

Take the train – it’s better for your blood pressure!

With another half term behind us and the Christmas holidays rapidly approaching many of us dread the inevitable arguments associated with travelling. Today Virgin Trains, the leading West Coast rail provider, reveals that cars are officially the most stressful mode of transport, with traffic jams, difficulties entertaining the children and the lack of supplies all making the journey much more testing.

Only 11% of UK parents (with children under 18) find trains the mode of transport most likely to cause an argument – meaning 88% just sit back and relax and enjoy the simplicity. Delays, the booking process and the uncomfortable seats all make planes and coaches some of the most unpopular modes of transport for families. Courtesy of the onboard entertainment from children’s colouring books to interactive games all the family can play, the train was the mode of transport parents don’t have to worry about keeping the children amused.

Interestingly the nostalgic games such as I spy are still popular on journeys with almost three quarters (73%) of the UK’s parents playing it when they were a child, and almost half (49%) still playing the game with their children. The use of electronic games on journeys has unsurprisingly increased. Only 11% of the UK’s parents played electronic games on journeys when they were children whereas almost a third now plays games such as Nintendo DS’s with their children.

Says Jim Rowe, Senior Communications Manager at Virgin Trains: “Nobody wants to start or finish their holiday with an argument so why should we opt for a mode of transport likely to induce it. With an array of activities to keep children entertained and the frequency of trains combined passengers will be able to sit back and relax and let someone else worry!

Jim continues: “Parents are increasingly staying in the UK for holidays so are looking for ways of travelling that allows all the family to relax. With an 18% increase in ticket sales so far this yet compared with last year trains are clearly becoming a more popular method of transport.”

Additional findings included:
Birmingham, Coventry, Glasgow, Northampton, Sheffield and Wolverhampton said the train was the least stressful and therefore least likely to cause arguments
The coach is the least popular mode of transport when taking a family trip
Card games were most popular with Northampton and Cardiff
However Wolverhampton and Edinburgh still favoured board games such as Cluedo and Snakes and Ladders

ENDS

For more information please contact Sophie Lennon or Hannah Baker at The SPA Way on 020 7403 6900 or email Hannah.baker@thespaway.com

Be enchanted by Christmas in Chester

As Christmas fast approaches Virgin Trains, the leading West Coast rail provider, is today announcing the launch of a special Virgin Trains off-peak day return ticket offering over a quarter saving on the normal fare. Available from 14 November 2009 – 17January 2010 the tickets aim to promote travel between the North Wales coast to Chester for a day trip.

With a fabulous Christmas market coming to Chester between 5-20 December visitors will be spoilt for choice when looking for gifts for their loved ones, or themselves! The special off-peak tickets will cover travel will be from North Wales stations (Holyhead, Bangor and Llandudno Junction) to Chester and the ‘Virgin Trains off-peak Day Return’ is 29% cheaper than the existing fare. A free bus also will be available from outside the train station to take passengers into the town centre – just show your train ticket.

For those wanting to bag a bargain Cheshire Oaks – the largest designer outlet in the UK, is a must visit, with an incredible 145 stores offering all the labels you love, permanently reduced by up to 60%.

There is also festive fun at Chester Zoo taking place until 3 January 2010, where visitors can follow the ‘Lapland’ trail to meet Santa and his elves in his winter wonderland grotto. Frosty the Polar Bear and waddle the Penguin will be on hand to dine with at breakfast or lunch. For details and entry charges visit www.chesterzoo.org.


The North Wales route has recently received a number of improvements from the introduction of Wi-Fi to the winter rotation of the First Class menu, based on locally sourced produce. With our high frequency timetable offering faster services, including weekends, there is no excuse for not seeking out the unusual Christmas gifts this year.

The special Virgin Trains off-peak Day Return fare costs £16.00 from Holyhead to Chester departing on the 08:55 train, which arrives into Chester at 10:31, and returning from Chester on the 19:22, 20:22 or 21:17 departures.

From Bangor the Virgin Trains off-peak Day Return fare is £12.00 and is available on the 09:22 and 12:24 departures to Chester, arriving 10:31 or 13:32. Return travel from Chester to Bangor can be made on the 18:11, 19:22, 20:22 and 21:17 departures.

From Llandudno Junction the Virgin Trains off-peak Day Return fare is £10.00 and is available on the 09:40 and 12:42 departures to Chester, arriving 10:31 or 13:32. Return travel from Chester to Llandudno Junction can be made on the 18:11, 19:22, 20:22 and 21:17 departures.

Says Anita Walczak, Group Station Manager North West at Virgin Trains: “The ticket prices offer a great incentive for people to travel to Chester. With so much to do in one city, from walks around the walls to the fabulous shopping, people will be spoilt for choice about what to do.”


- ENDS –

For more information please contact Sophie Lennon or Hannah Baker at The SPA Way on 020 7403 6900 or email Hannah.baker@thespaway.com

Virgin Trains unveils new strand of advertising campaign

Virgin Trains, the leading West Coast rail provider, has unveiled its brand new ‘High Reach Billboard’ campaign to the nation in the form of 'on truck advertising'. Displaying prominent lines such as 'I want to be stretched out in comfort, not stressed in traffic' this creative approach which targets the millions of daily motorway users is part of the company's widespread advertising campaign to entice customers on to the train this winter.

Says Jim Rowe, Senior Communications Manager at Virgin Trains: “This year’s advertising campaign has seen Virgin Trains try to be in more unusual places and the large creative canvas provided by ‘High Reach Billboards’ was a great opportunity to communicate some of the many benefits of traveling by train to motorway users.”

With 70 trucks currently on roads across the country, and due to increase to 120 in the upcoming month, Virgin Trains message will dominate UK highways that hold the vast majority of mobile audiences for the next 3 months. Creative agency MCBD and In Your Space – a London based Media Owner that uses premium fleets as a high impact advertising platform – have created the eye catching campaign.

Says Jonathan Bramley, Managing Director for In Your Space: “Virgin Trains High Reach Billboard campaign communicates to potential customers by placing the perfect message within an environment hosting a reservoir of new customers. With highways representing only 13% of the total road length in the UK and carrying 64% of all vehicle traffic, the UK’s motorways and major ‘A’ roads carry a disproportionate volume of traffic relative to their size. Hence these roads not only present a reservoir of new Virgin Trains customers, but a highly concentrated one.”

– ENDS –

For further media information contact the Virgin Trains Press Office on 0845 000 3333 or
visit our Media Room website at http://mediaroom.virgintrains.co.uk/

Or

For more information please contact Sophie Lennon or Hannah Baker at The SPA Way on 020 7403 6900 or email Hannah.baker@thespaway.com

Virgin Trains’ ticket office strike planned for Friday 20 November called off

Virgin Trains advises all its customers that a normal service will be provided in its ticket offices tomorrow (Friday 20 November 2009) after union TSSA called off its planned industrial action.

The strike was abandoned after legal advice questioned the ballot procedures.

Tony Collins, Virgin Trains Chief Executive said: ” It is appalling that our customers have been left in doubt as to whether they would be able to buy tickets tomorrow and we are pleased that we can run our business as normal and provide our customers with the service they expect.

“Virgin Trains station staff are working brilliantly in dealing with increasing numbers of customers.

“It is shameful that the TSSA leadership has deliberately confused its own members and our customers over what the dispute is about. ”

Winter warmers as Virgin Trains introduces new seasonal menu

Travel First Class with Virgin Trains this winter and enjoy a mouth-watering selection of award-winning complimentary food. The new Winter menu starts on 11 November 2009 and, as always, focuses on quality ingredients from sustainable sources. For Virgin Trains it means using only free range chicken and eggs, Fairtrade drinks and outdoor-reared meat. For customers it means assurance that only the very best makes it onboard.

Highlights of the Winter Light Bites menu include Somerset brie and cranberry and orange compote roll, Scottish rare beef and horseradish sandwich and fruity gamekeeper and curried chicken pie slices. For the sweet-toothed there are delicious strawberry crumble and coffee cake slices.

New additions to the Evening Meal on Pendolino services are delicious venison with chestnuts; Kashmiri chicken and mash, and smoked haddock florentine. For vegetarians there’s vegetable pie and mash, mushroom risotto and spiced sweet potato and lentils. For dessert there is Banoffee cheesecake, chocolate cake with chunks, treacle sponge with vanilla custard and apple crumble with sultanas and vanilla custard. The popular cheese option remains, served with saltana bread and oatcakes.

Included on the menu for customers travelling on Virgin Trains Super Voyager services is aromatic minted lamb with mash and carrots, chicken tikka masala, and corn beef hash with potatoes and red cabbage. For vegetarians, there’s gnocchi with red wine and mushroom and aubergine parmigiano. To round things off there’s options of Banoffe cheesecake, chocolate cake with chunks, and treacle sponge with vanilla custard.

The popular Virgin Trains breakfast remains available on Pendolino services to and from London Euston until 0959 and includes sausages made from the highest quality pork and outdoor-reared sweet cure bacon with free range eggs . There’s a tasty vegetarian option of rosti, egg, tomato and two vegetarian sausages plus bacon and sausage rolls for customers looking for a slightly lighter option. Breakfast on a Super Voyager consists of free range scrambled eggs and smoked salmon, fresh seasonal fruits, and bacon and sausage paninis. Refreshments are served with all meals.

Nic Cuthbertson, Virgin Trains Product Development and Purchasing Manager, says: “The new Winter menu reflects our continued commitment to providing customers with great tasting, interesting meals. Whenever people experience our onboard menu we want them to be assured that they are getting the freshest ingredients from sustainable sources.”

And it’s not just us who thinks this. Caterer and Hotelkeeper Magazine described Virgin Trains as ‘head and shoulders above the rest (train operators) in first class accommodation. In the past year, Virgin Trains has won a Compassion in World Farming Good Egg Award for ditching battery eggs in favour of free range eggs and the Coveted Onboard Award for Cost Sector Catering.

Notes for editors
From 13 December, Virgin Trains’ meal times are as follows:
Breakfast – until 10:00
Light Bites – between 10:00 and 17:00/after 19:00
Evening Meal – between 17:00 and 19:00.

Images of Virgin Trains and the company’s operations are available on our online media website www.virgintrainsmediaroom.com. You will need to register to access the Media Resources section containing high-resolution images of our operations.

Virgin Trains is the brand name of Virgin Rail Group. We have operated the West Coast passenger train franchise since 1997; the current franchise runs to March 2012.

Virgin Rail Group is owned 51 percent by Virgin Group and 49 percent by Stagecoach.

Virgin Trains has been listed as the Best Train Operator in a survey by the Institute of Customer Service and has been voted Best Rail Company by Travel Weekly magazine and Best UK Domestic Train Service by Business Traveller magazine.

Lawyers loco-motivated for free advice collaboration

Up to 40 lawyers will be jumping aboard a Virgin Trains First Class coach between London and Manchester to brainstorm ideas on how to increase collaboration and joined-up thinking in providing legal services to charities and those in financial hardship across the country.

Lawyers who work “pro bono” are this year splitting their bi-annual conference between London and Manchester and are using the 07:20 service from Euston to Manchester as the perfect link between the two cities. They have been given exclusive use of the coach to discuss and debate issues on the train as they travel between the conferences.

Solicitors, barristers, legal executives and law students regularly give free advice to meet unmet legal needs, at law centres and clinics across England and Wales.

Ming Kong, Chair, Conference Organising Committee, said: “Many from the legal profession already enjoy and understand the benefits of high speed train travel and this we felt was a fantastic opportunity to use valuable thinking time to come up with some fresh and innovative ideas."

Rebecca Hilsenrath, Chief Executive, LawWorks, said: “We are holding one day of the Conference this year in Manchester as part of a focus to encourage joined-up thinking on pro bono delivery across the country. We are extremely grateful to Virgin Trains for providing transport to this event and supporting our conversation, which will continue from London to Manchester, about increasing collaboration and coordination.”

Arthur Leathley, Communications Director for Virgin Trains said: ”We are absolutely delighted that the pro-bono group of lawyers are using one of our trains as a backdrop to their conference. We certainly hope that they find the two hour journey time productive and arrive in Manchester refreshed and ready to resume the more formal part of their conference.”

Virgin Trains runs a 20 minute interval service of trains linking London and Manchester seven days a week with most services taking a little over two hours for the 184 mile journey.

- Ends -



For media information about the Law Society contact Catherine Reed at the Law Society Press Office on 020 7320 5902 or visit www.lawsocietymedia.org.uk

Notes to Editors

The Joint National Pro Bono Conference, which is sponsored by law firms Allen & Overy and Irwin Mitchell, is being held in 2009 for the second time. The first Conference took place in 2007. This year’s Conference will take place at Friends House in Euston on 9 November and Manchester Civil Justice Centre on 10 November. Details are at www.probonouk.net

The Conference is hosted jointly by LawWorks, the Bar Pro Bono Unit and ILEX, in association with the Advice Services Alliance and the Personal Support Unit.

The Conference takes place in National Pro Bono Week which this year runs from 9 to 13 November. Details of the week are at www.probonouk.net

Oyez, oyez! Virgin Trains customers get on-board WiFi from North Wales and Chester

On the day the Prime Minister used Virgin’s 125 mph service to travel to engagements in Cheshire, Chester’s Town Crier has launched high speed wireless internet for passengers on all Virgin trains between London Euston, Chester and north Wales.



Using the ancient technology of bell and voice, Town Crier David Mitchell stars in a YouTube clip promoting the introduction of the latest communications technology on Virgin’s fleet of 125 mph Super Voyager trains. Showing how the noisy Town Crier copes with a quiet carriage by using wi-fi , the clip also gives instructions on how to win wi-fi enabled phones from Virgin Mobile and First Class Virgin train tickets by visiting http://www.christmasincheshire.com/

The WiFi HotSpot service will provide a wireless broadband connection throughout the entire journey at high speeds – including tunnels! The HotSpot service has been rolled out for Virgin by T-Mobile and its partner Nomad Digital.

The HotSpot service will provide train passengers with fast and reliable access to the internet, email and other applications, whether for work or leisure purposes. First Class passengers will get complimentary access to the service, while other passengers can buy HotSpot passes online from their Wi-Fi enabled device. Existing T-Mobile Mobile customers on the mobile broadband tariff have unlimited HotSpot access, which means they are able to access the new service at no extra cost.

T-Mobile provides Wi-Fi HotSpot access across the UK, including the places regular cellular network technology finds harder to reach. In January 2009 T-Mobile’s service came top in the independent YouGov survey of 1,958 mobile broadband users. The results ranked T-Mobile first in nine out of 13 categories including upload and download speeds, customer service, easy start up and use, and value for money.

Graham Leech, Executive Director Commercial for Virgin Trains said:

“We’re always looking at ways to improve the travel experience for our passengers so we’re pleased to be able to answer their requests for access to the internet on our trains. We hope this latest improvement to our services will make travelling between north Wales, Chester and London all the more enjoyable and productive. T-Mobile and Nomad have a great record of delivering these types of projects and we’re confident our customers will receive the fast, reliable internet access they require.”

Commenting on the news, Richard Warmsley, Head of Internet and Entertainment for T-Mobile UK said:

“As the popularity of mobile broadband continues to soar, we want to do everything we can to offer people access to the internet wherever they are. This provides a unique solution on-board Virgin Trains , at no extra cost to our pay monthly Mobile Broadband customers, and available to everyone, whatever mobile phone network they use. From business users checking emails or sending documents on the way to and from work, to people checking their Facebook, or downloading songs for the trip, this new mobile broadband service offers all passengers the opportunity to make the most of their journeys.”

Graeme Lowdon, Nomad founder and Chief Executive commented:

“We are delighted to be building on the success of the Wifi internet service already offered on Virgin's Pendolino fleet. Business and leisure passengers travelling between London, Chester and North Wales will be getting the best service available given that Nomad - the global market leader for high speed wireless communication systems in rail - has deployed the latest solution on Virgin’s Super Voyager fleet”

~ ENDS ~

Notes for editors

http://www.christmasincheshire.com/ is a website produced by Visit Chester and Cheshire, the tourism management organisation for Chester and Cheshire which is funded and supported by the North West Regional Development Agency, three local authorities and over 400 private sector tourism stakeholders in Cheshire. The special seasonal website highlights festive events, shopping opportunities, festive food trails, winter wonderland garden trails and the attractions of Cheshire’s market towns.

Virgin Trains customers get on-board WiFi between Birmingham and Scotland

Virgin Trains has launched high-speed wireless internet for passengers on all Super Voyager trains between Birmingham and Scotland.

The WiFi HotSpot service will provide a wireless broadband connection throughout the entire journey at high speeds – including tunnels! The HotSpot service has been rolled out for Virgin by T-Mobile and its partner Nomad Digital.

The HotSpot service will provide train passengers with fast and reliable access to the internet, email and other applications, whether for work or leisure purposes. First Class passengers will get complimentary access to the service, while other passengers can buy HotSpot passes online from their Wi-Fi enabled device. Existing T-Mobile Mobile customers on the mobile broadband tariff have unlimited HotSpot access, which means they are able to access the new service at no extra cost.

T-Mobile provides WiFi HotSpot access across the UK, including the places regular cellular network technology finds harder to reach. In January 2009 T-Mobile’s service came top in the independent YouGov survey of 1,958 mobile broadband users. The results ranked T-Mobile first in nine out of 13 categories including upload and download speeds, customer service, easy start up and use, and value for money.

Graham Leech, Executive Director Commercial for Virgin Trains says: "We’re always looking at ways to improve the travel experience for our passengers so we’re pleased to be able to answer their requests for access to the internet on our trains. We hope this latest improvement to our services will make travelling between Birmingham and Scotland all the more enjoyable and productive. T-Mobile and Nomad have a great record of delivering these types of projects and we’re confident our customers will receive the fast, reliable internet access they require."

Commenting on the news, Richard Warmsley, Head of Internet and Entertainment for T-Mobile UK said: "As the popularity of mobile broadband continues to soar, we want to do everything we can to offer people access to the internet wherever they are. This provides a unique solution on-board Virgin Trains, at no extra cost to our pay monthly Mobile Broadband customers, and available to everyone, whatever mobile phone network they use. From business users checking emails or sending documents on the way to and from work, to people checking their Facebook, or downloading songs for the trip, this new mobile broadband service offers all passengers the opportunity to make the most of their journeys."

Graeme Lowdon, Nomad founder and Chief Executive commented: "We are delighted to be building on the success of the Wifi internet service already offered on Virgin's Pendolino fleet. Business and leisure passengers travelling between Birmingham and Scotland will be getting the best service available given that Nomad - the global market leader for high speed wireless communication systems in rail - has deployed the latest solution on Virgin’s Super Voyager fleet."

Christmas markets come to the UK - Virgin Trains celebrates the festivity on our doorsteps

Have you started making your Christmas lists yet? With shops stocking decorations, advent calendars and gift ideas it’s hard to escape from the festive season and as the day gets ever closer Virgin Trains is keen to highlight the unique offerings available from the various Christmas markets around the country. With over 30 markets from Glasgow to Hyde Park everyone can enjoy some festive fun this year.

Whether wanting to try a taste of the exotic at Chester’s Continental Market or to buy some beautiful ornamental pieces at The Spirit of Christmas in Olympia, friends and family can be guaranteed some eclectic presents. With journey times around two hours from London to Manchester, Liverpool and Chester and under an hour and a half to Birmingham, Virgin Trains, the leading West Coast Rail Provider is encouraging people to sample the fabulous Christmas Markets available up and down the country.

New research has revealed Christmas to be the most popular cause to return home, with 62% of respondents favouring this over occasions such as birthdays. These findings show the lengths people are willing to travel to be with their loved ones, and with the markets starting at the beginning of November and running until the first couple of days of January, there is no excuse for not picking up something special this year.

Says Jim Rowe, Senior Communications Manager at Virgin Trains: “Christmas is an occasion when people enjoy lavishing time and money on their loved ones and with an abundance of Christmas markets there is no excuse for a pair of socks this Christmas! With our high frequency timetable offering faster services, including weekends, we hope people will seek out the unusual Christmas offerings this year.”

A selection of the Christmas markets on offer this year…

Birmingham - Frankfurt Christmas Market: 12 November - 23 December
Chester - Continental Christmas Market: 5 – 20 December
Glasgow - Traditional Christmas Market: 27 November – 24 December
Hyde Park, London - Winter Wonderland: 21 November – 3 January
Keswick - Traditional Christmas Fair: 6 December
Manchester - Christmas Market: December
Olympia, London - Spirit of Christmas Fair: 4 – 8 November
Royal Smithfield - Christmas Fair: 4 – 5 December
Southbank, London - Bankside Frost Fair: December 2009

Fares start from: Euston to Birmingham £7 (single), Euston to Glasgow £17.50 (single) and Euston to Manchester from £11 (single). Tickets can be purchased from http://www.virgintrains.com/, by calling 08457 222 333 or at the station.

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For more information please contact Sophie Lennon or Hannah Baker at The SPA Way on 020 7403 6900 or email Hannah.baker@thespaway.com
* Research conducted by Opinion Matters/Tickbox.net survey. Total survey sample base was 2096 UK adults aged 16+
Results taken from all regions where there were 80 or more respondents
Notes to Editors

You can subscribe to receive alerts to new press releases by visiting http://mediaroom.virgintrains.co.uk/

Virgin Trains is the brand name of Virgin Rail Group. We have operated the West Coast passenger train franchise since 1997; the current franchise runs to March 2012.

Virgin Rail Group is owned 51 percent by Virgin Group and 49 percent by Stagecoach.

Virgin Trains has been voted Best Rail Company by Travel Weekly magazine and Best UK Domestic Train Service by Business Traveller magazine.

Virgin Trains has been awarded the Global Travel Awards 2009 ‘Best Rail Operator’ Category as voted by Evening Standard readers.