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Trains 'beating low-cost jets'


3/ 3/2005

VIRGIN Trains claims it is winning its battle with low-cost airlines after the number of passengers went up 29 per cent in six months.

The train company says business has rocketed since it introduced a half-hourly train service last September using tilting Pendolino trains travelling at up to 125mph.

And Charles Belcher, the company's managing director for the West Coast Mainline, claims it proves Virgin is winning the battle with low-cost air lines to win business travellers between Manchester and London.

The Pendolinos, built and maintained by Alstom, have been hit by technical problems since launch, which has led to complaints from passenger groups about cancellations.

But Mr Belcher believes the increase in patronage proves passengers are choosing the train over airlines like jet2, VLM and British Airways, which all fly between the two cities.

Charges

He said: "It has never been easier or quicker to catch the train between these key cities. Passengers clearly value a short, seamless journey without speed cameras, airport check-ins, congestion charges and the hassle of transferring to and from the city centre.

"We have fares as low as '24 return, and we are giving a 20 per cent discount on first class journeys booked just a day in advance. This shows another advantage, that we can tailor fares to a wide range of customer needs."

Virgin says it has doubled frequency since September and now runs 33 weekday services each way compared to a total of 19 flights between London Heathrow and Manchester, split between rival airlines.

Passenger groups have complained that passengers are having trouble buying advertised cheap fares due to delays with Network Rail releasing details of engineering work.

A Virgin spokesman said that, even though airlines had slashed fares to tempt passengers, the train was still good value.

"Business travellers also now benefit from the Business Advance First Class return fare from '225, which can be booked up to 6pm on the day before travel and is significantly cheaper than British Airways' '285 Traveller Flexible fare," he said.

"For those booking 14 days in advance, the Virgin Value Advance 14 Return fare is '24 compared to the cheapest British Airways return fare of '65. For extra luxury, the Virgin Value Advance First 14 provides return travel for '54, less than VLM's cheapest standard class single fare of '50 plus '8.40 tax."


| Submit CommentSubmit Comments | View CommentsView Comments(3)


Most recent 2 of 3 user comments

   If only the Pendolinos were actually comfortable. The air con is noisy, the volume of the PA announce beeps is piercing and hurts your ears, the trains randomly beep at you (Oh that's the buffet staff calling the train manager, oh that's the emergency alarm in the toilet *again*, oh that's the driver calling the train manager). As for seats in cattle class: I'm 6' 5". I can't sit in the airline seats, as there is insufficiant legroom - my knees are pressed into the bottom of the fold-down table. If I sit on a table window seat, my legs get pressed into the plugs that protrude down hugely from the table, which leaves Table aisle seats. Wonderful. Make the trains comfortable and reliable and you've got me. Until then, sorry Virgin...
P, Birmingham
3/03/2005 at 17:38

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   33 trains compared to 19 Flights to heathrow. As ever Virgin only tells half the story - what about the flights to London City and Gatwick.

Virgin always talk about the new trains. They will lose the franchise because their weak spot is the staff - too many and too poor at giving service.
John, Cheshire
3/03/2005 at 13:36

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