Virgin Trains offers complimentary upgrade for forces on Armed Forces Day, Saturday 25 June 2011

Virgin Trains will support Armed Forces Day on 25 June 2011 by offering members of the armed forces a complimentary upgrade from Standard to First Class, space permitting. If appropriate, one accompanying passenger can also benefit.

The suggestion came from Virgin Trains’ Train Manager, Steve Ward, who is based at the company’s Liverpool depot. Steve said: “I have a soft spot for all our men and women in the forces. I just feel these people accept the call to put their country and its people before themselves, and for this we should be grateful. Armed Forces day is a chance to say thank you.”

Train Managers will make an onboard announcement, subject to seats being available in First Class. To claim the upgrade a valid HM Forces Railcard must be produced.

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Notes to Editors - Virgin Trains

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Virgin Trains is the brand name of Virgin Rail Group (VRG), which is owned 51 percent by Virgin Group and 49 percent by Stagecoach. We have operated the West Coast passenger train franchise since 1997.

The current franchise runs to March 2012 and the Secretary of State for Transport announced on 19 May 2011 that the Department for Transport will seek to agree acceptable terms with VRG for an extension to the current contract to December 2012. We have been short-listed for the new franchise that will start in December 2012.

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. In May 2011 Virgin Trains was awarded accreditation against the criteria of the European Foundation for Quality Management's (EFQM) Excellence Model.

Notes to Editors – Armed Forces Day

Armed Forces Day now occurs annually on the last Saturday in June. In 2011 it will be on Saturday 25 June.

It is an opportunity to do two things. Firstly, to raise public awareness of the contribution made to our country by those who serve and have served in Her Majesty’s Armed Forces, Secondly, it gives the nation an opportunity to Show Your Support for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community: from currently serving troops to Service families and from veterans to cadets.

The 2011 National Event will be held in Edinburgh, but there are many more events up and down the country being held in support of Armed Forces Day. Virgin Trains runs direct train services from Birmingham to Edinburgh, serving places such as Crewe, Preston and Carlisle.

Become a fan of Armed Forces Day on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ArmedForcesDay

The Armed Forces Day logo and other resources are at www.armedforceday.org.uk

Official Armed Forces Day flags and party packs are available from www.zephyr-tvc.com

More information on the MOD and Armed Forces can be found at www.mod.uk

For more information about Armed Forces Day 2011 visit the website - http://www.armedforcesday.org.uk/ - or contact the MOD press office on 020 7218 5903.