Travel the Tracks . . .

VIRGIN Trains’ customers are a step closer to new trains as work begins on the Azuma (Class 800) fleet, due to enter service on the east coast in 2018.

Work on the bodyshells is taking place in Kasado, Japan, before the trains arrive in the UK to be built by Hitachi’s manufacturing team in the North East. Hitachi’s UK train manufacturing team at Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, is home to over 900 employees including over 50 apprentices. UK build work on the Virgin Azuma will begin this summer.

The Virgin Azuma will transform travel and customer experiences when it arrives on the east coast main line next year. The fleet of 65 trains will provide an extra 12,200 seats, and faster journeys will make direct routes to new destinations such as London-Middlesbrough possible, as well as a big increase in through services from London to places such as Bradford, Harrogate and Lincoln.

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Four trains, four generations

THE once in a lifetime event taking place on Yorkshire’s railways later this month has been confirmed, with the historic occasion to begin at 06.00 on Sunday April 23 near the North Yorkshire village of Tollerton.

With the eyes of the world watching, four trains spanning four generations will travel side by side, in the same direction, to celebrate the past, present and future of one of the country’s most iconic pieces of railway, the East Coast Main Line, before arriving into York at around 08.00 for a special celebration that will last until around 09.00.

The world famous Flying Scotsman will travel alongside two trains from Virgin Trains’ revitalised fleet - an HST (Class 43), an InterCity225 (Class 91) - and the rail operator’s brand new train, the Virgin Azuma (Class 800) which is being built by Hitachi in the North East, and will come into service in 2018.

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Virgin beefs up north-south train services

VIRGIN TRAINS EAST COAST has launched a new range of services to London from Stirling and Sunderland in response to passenger demand for more early morning departures, Rail Technology magazine has reported.

The company has also announced that it will operate a new evening train between Hull and Doncaster, a service is intended to open up travel opportunities for people wanting to travel to London.

A fleet of 65 new Virgin Trains will also be introduced on the East Coast main line from 2018. The trains are being built by Hitachi at its plant in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham.

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Virgin revamps east coast trains

A £21 MILLION revamp of 45 trains has been unveiled by Virgin Trains on its east coast route. The money will be spent on refurbishing the interiors ahead of the company introducing new rolling stock from 2018.  

More than 400 carriages will be overhauled with 24,123 seats replaced along with refurbished toilets and new carpets and curtains. Leather seats will be fitted in first class.

The work will be carried out in London and Edinburgh, where it will also fit 35 new engines to its diesel fleet as part of a £16 million contract.

Further work to the exterior of the fleet takes the total investment to more than £40 million, according to the company.

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Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/8269539@N04/17371370125">Virgin trains Class 390 Pendolino, high speed through platform 4, Nuneaton station</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">(license)

Virgin Trains creates rail ale

A ‘RAIL ALE’ has been created for passengers using Virgin Trains' east coast routes. The ‘Hop on Board’ brand has been devised by York-based Rudgate Brewery in conjunction with the train company.

Virgin Trains expects to sell more than 55,000 bottles at £4 each to passengers travelling on routes between London King’s Cross, Leeds, York, Newcastle, and Edinburgh.

#VirginTrains customer experience director, Alison Watson, says: ‘Hop on Board is an exciting step in revamping our on-board offering, embracing the craft beer revolution. Working alongside the #RudgateBrewery, we have created an ale full of flavour and charisma that epitomizes the Virgin Trains spirit and the hoptimist’s outlook on life – with us, the glass is always half full.’

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Virgin Trains East Coast targets airlines' market share

VIRGIN TRAINS EAST COAST is aiming to capture market share from domestic airlines through a series of initiatives.

A more flexible reservation system is to be introduced allowing bookings to be made closer to departure to better suit travellers who make last-minute travel arrangements.

Customers booking online or via the company’s app will be able to collect two Nectar points for every pound spent, while passengers can also earn Virgin Atlantic Flying Club miles.

The plans come as the rail operator approaches the 100th day of business since taking over the inter-city East coast franchise in March.

The company is promising faster journey times between London King’s Cross and Leeds of two hours and Edinburgh in four hours, with improved catering designed by local chefs with menus changed regularly.

Longer-term plans include the introduction of 65 new ‘Super Express’ trains from 2018.

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Picture Credit: Virgin Trains East Coast Super Express Train by Virgin Trains East Coast - http://www.virgintrainseastcoast.com/media-centre/#/images/image-of-iep-new-train-in-virgin-trains-east-coast-livery-395152. Licensed under CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons