Virgin’s Trains Passenger group visits Chester

Members of the Virgin Trains Passenger Panel were in Chester today to hear how the train company has teamed up with tourism organisation Visit Chester and Cheshire to promote the train service as an integral part of the Chester tourism package.

The Panel members also heard from the Virgin Trains regional management team, who cover the Liverpool area. They outlined how they have been encouraged to identify opportunities within their area and manage implementation projects. “Everyone in the business is encouraged to make suggestions, which the regional teams will then develop. We make the decisions at the local level and keep our main Executive Board informed of our activities”, said Virgin Trains Group Station Manager Anita Brown.

Schemes that have been developed in recent months include dedicated Virgin Trains-only fares on the Stafford to Liverpool route, sponsorship of Chester’s Rhino Mania – with a rhino now at London’s Euston station, a special pass priced at £5 allowing access to the First Class Lounge at Crewe at off-peak times by Standard ticket holders and a competition at Stafford for buskers to entertain visitors to this year’s V-Festival as they pass through the station.

The group also heard from Visit Chester and Cheshire Chief Executive Chris Brown who talked about the benefits of a high quality rail link to tourism destinations, such as Chester as well as the successful partnership approach that has been developed with Virgin Trains. Chris Brown reiterated his comments last week when during a visit to Chester by senior Virgin Trains managers to meet with key stakeholders he said:: “We have been encouraged by the ‘can do’ approach of everyone at Virgin Trains and the support that they have given us. In Chester we have all seen the impact that good transport links have on the destination.”

He added: “I am delighted that Virgin Trains has brought its Passenger Panel members to Chester to showcase our successful partnership.”

Members of the Virgin Trains Passenger Panel were chosen from over 300 passengers who had applied following an appeal in the on train magazine ‘Hotline’. The passengers who were selected to join the Panel represent a wide demographic cross section who use Virgin Trains services for a mix of business and leisure purposes. They are also spread across the Virgin Trains network.

Virgin Trains Communications Manager Steven Knight, who manages the Virgin Trains Passenger Panel said: “Chester and the North West provides a real case study in how local management and local relationships can bring big rewards. It is always easy to concentrate on the big projects, but smaller, local opportunities are just as important but we know there are still opportunities that could be developed. That is why, armed with the knowledge of what we have done in Chester and the North West we are asking members of the Passenger Panel to see if there are any opportunities or relationships that we should be looking at in the areas where they live.”

One of the members of the Passenger Panel is Chester-based Jane Harrad-Roberts, who is the Managing Director of Marketing Projects. Jane said: “The panel meets quarterly to tell Virgin Trains how it is; what they do right and what they can improve. We are a representative group of their customers and a ready source of feedback on new ideas and how they are doing. We’re not afraid to ask the difficult questions rail travellers want to ask. I use the train as much as I can for leisure with the family and business travel down to our London office so I know how vital good communications are for the lifeblood of a region. Since the improved, fast service to London from Chester we’ve definitely seen an uptake of travellers to Chester, it’s great for the City. ”

Rail travel to and from London/Milton Keynes and Chester has increased by 38% since the new service was introduced in January 2009..

Following the meeting Passenger Panel members were taken on an open top bus tour of the city.