FILEPIX: May, 2014. A new deal for rail services on the West Coast Main Line that will bring thousands more seats, free wi-fi and pave the way for new journeys on the route has been awarded to West Coast Trains Limited (Virgin), Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin announced today. The direct award contract will run for 2 years and 9 months and see the train operator continue to provide vital passenger journeys between London, Scotland and Wales as the government forges ahead with its multi-billion pound investment to improve and maintain railways. Credit: Fraser Pithie/Alamy Live News
A new deal for rail services on the West Coast Main Line that will bring thousands more seats, free wi-fi and pave the way for new journeys on the route has been awarded to West Coast Trains Limited (Virgin), Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin announced today (19 June 2014).The direct award contract will run for 2 years and 9 months and see the train operator continue to provide vital passenger journeys between London, Scotland and Wales as the government forges ahead with its multi-billion pound investment to improve and maintain our new contract will bring £35 million worth of passenger benefits, including:21 first-class carriages converted to standard class, delivering 5,500 extra standard seats per day across the networkfree wi-fi at stations and improved coverage across the entire fleetmore than £20 million invested to modernise and enhance stations, including improving waiting rooms, seats and shelters£ million to improve the interiors of the Pendolino train fleet, as well as £ million spent on improving catering facilitiesimproved station cleanliness and accessibilitynew targets for passenger satisfaction, train punctuality and cleanlinessplans developed to increase car parking at Carlisle, Lancaster and StaffordIn addition, Virgin will now start work to secure new direct services between Shrewsbury, Blackpool and London from December, boosting connections for passengers and local businesses. The deal will also create jobs, including apprenticeships and traineeships, underlining the governmentÕs commitment to get more people into work. The picture shows the mainstay of the Virgin Trains fleet, the Pendolino, tilting round a sharp curve at Atherstone, Warwickshire with a service from London Euston to Liverpool Lime Street on 29 May 2014. Virgin Trains operate train services from and to London Euston between Glasgow , Wolverhampton, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Chester & Holyhead
Size: 4688px × 2764px
Location: Atherstone, Warwickshire, UK
Photo credit: © Fraser Pithie / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: coast, extension, franchise, line, main, railways, trains, virgin, wcml, west
