Trains get even quicker

VIRGIN TRAINS has announced a new faster and more frequent timetable for its services out of London Euston to the north-west and Glasgow following the official opening by Rail Minister Andrew Adonis of the upgraded UKP8.9bn West Coast Mainline.  Whilst the journey time to Glasgow has come down to 4h30m from just over five hours in the last few years Sir Richard Branson has a target of four hours for the 400-mile city centre to city centre journey.  At a press conference last week he emphasized that this could only happen if the rail franchises were extended.  “With a UKP1bn investment we could, within 3 to 5 years, see our trains running at 140mph with major reductions in journey times between London and all West Coast destinations.  What we are asking is that the Government re-thinks the franchise situation to give train operators the opportunity to invest, grow the rail business and lessen the burden on taxpayers,” he said. www.virgintrains.co.uk

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