FORMER FLIERS GET ON TRACK

Rail travel is soaring but domestic air demand is on the way down, it has been revealed in the wake of bmi’s decision to axe flights between Glasgow and Heathrow.

Virgin Trains welcomes confirmation of the switch to rail in findings by the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC). Based on a comparison of rail industry figures with data published by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), a long-term change in travel patterns has been identified.

CAA figures show that between 2006 and 2010, passenger journeys by air between Glasgow and London airports went down by 22.4 per cent, while ATOC information confirms a remarkable 85.8 per cent increase in rail passenger journeys between the cities.

Rail’s share of the rail/air market between Glasgow and London had been as low as 6 per cent in the early years of the 21st century but has grown significantly since then, reaching 10 per cent in 2006, 12 per cent in 2008, 16 per cent in 2009 and 20 per cent in 2010.

“This is great news for the environment as rail is the ‘green’ way to go,” said Katharine Cole, Acting General Manager, Scotland and Cumbria, for Virgin Trains. “It’s also great news for our excellent staff because it proves that their hard work in delivering quality customer service has encouraged passengers to stay with us once they have tried rail instead of air.”

“With bmi having taken off for the last time between Glasgow and Heathrow, this is a perfect opportunity for even more people to take the train instead. In the two years since we introduced a hugely improved timetable, our trains have become more popular than ever.”

She added: “With Advance single fares from £18.50 in Standard and from £49 in First Class between Glasgow and London, our trains offer good value as well as good speed between city centres.”

Virgin operates 13 Pendolino trains a day in each direction between Glasgow Central and London Euston with a typical schedule of 4 hours 32 minutes. For much of the day, there’s a train every hour from Glasgow.

Ends For further media information visit the Virgin Trains Media Room website at http://mediaroom.virgintrains.co.uk/

Notes to editors:
· On weekdays, Virgin Trains departures to London Euston are from Glasgow Central at 0428, 0540, 0630, 0737 then 40 minutes past every hour from 0840 to 1440, then 1640 and 1840. Departures from London Euston are at 0539 then 30 minutes past every hour from 0730 to 1930, with additional trains at 1657 and 1757; all are through trains to Glasgow except the 1030, 1230 and 1430, which run to Lancaster with one change of train for Glasgow (the 1430 is through to Glasgow on Fridays).

· Images of Virgin Trains and the company’s operations are available in the Image Library on our online Media Room website www.virgintrains.co.uk/about/media-room/

· 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 recognised in numerous industry awards. In 2010 the company has been named Best Rail Operator of the Year at the Travel Globe Awards (voted for by readers of the Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday and Evening Standard), and Best Rail Operator in the Group Leisure Awards (which we also won in 2009). In 2009 we were also voted Best UK Domestic Train Service by Business Traveller magazine for the second year running. Virgin Trains first achieved Investors In People accreditation in 2007and this was renewed in 2010; the IiP Gold award was achieved in 2011.