A RAIL firm has tried to show trains are quicker than planes . . . by sending staff to work by air.
Bosses at Virgin Trains took the unusual step of getting dozens of staff to travel between Manchester and London by air,
while wearing T-shirts bearing slogans that included `Virgin Trains: Faster than planes to central London.'
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The action was the latest step in a long-running battle between the train operator and the airlines to win over the hearts and minds of commuters, travelling between Manchester and London.
According to the company journeys to London are quicker by train because airline passengers waste valuable time commuting to and from airports, checking in and sitting in departure lounges. They also claims 13 per cent more trains arriving on time, compared to British Airways' services from Manchester to Heathrow and Gatwick.
"We wanted to take our messages right into the heartland of the air business travel market," said Virgin Trains' sales and marketing director Craig Inglis.
However British Airways says figures show Virgin Trains' year round punctuality is similar to that of the airlines. And it says a National Passenger Survey for the railways has found that 20 per cent of Virgin Trains' customers believe the operator deals badly with delays.
A spokesman for British Airways said: "It's good to see that Virgin have finally seen the light and realised the fastest and most efficient way of getting their employees from Manchester to London is on the British Airways shuttle.
"Now they have experienced our seamless services and low one-fare fares from as little as £35, we are sure we will be welcoming them on board again soon. With 12 well-timed return flights a day from Manchester to Heathrow, they have plenty to choose from."
A spokesman for Bmi said: "Virgin are entitled to advertise at the airport just as we are entitled to advertise at railways stations.
"The passengers will decide who is best in the end."
