Virgin Trains: New lounge for Birmingham International

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Wednesday, 30, Apr 2008 12:00

Virgin Trains First Class customers using Birmingham International station now have exclusive use of a new state-of-the-art lounge.

The First Class Lounge was opened today (April 30) by Les Ross BBC Radio WM Presenter, and regular user of Birmingham International station. He was joined in unveiling a commemorative plaque by Virgin Trains station assistant Les Parsons. Following the official opening, Les Ross toured the station meeting the Virgin Trains station team.

The lounge, which has seating for over 40 customers provides a quiet and relaxing atmosphere for customers to wait for their train, or to catch up on work after arriving back from the City. Wireless internet (WiFi) will be available shortly free of charge for users of the lounge. A self-service facility for hot and cold drinks and light snacks is also provided. The lounge offers full access for the mobility impaired.

Virgin Trains Station Manager Anne Grant said: "We have a high quality train service, using state-of-the-art tilting Pendolino trains from Birmingham International to London, and now we have a high quality station facility to complement the trains. We are confident that the improved facilities at the station will encourage more environmentally-conscious motorists to ditch the car and take the train."

Les Ross said: "As a regular user of Birmingham International station I am delighted that this investment has been made. It provides the business traveller with the same level of facilities that are provided at the other key West Midlands stations of Wolverhampton, Birmingham New Street and Coventry.

Virgin Trains currently operates 34 trains each way on weekdays on the Birmingham International-London route. From 2009 this will increase to over 50 trains each way when a 20-minute frequency daytime service will be provided. Average journey times to London will be 1hr 12min. Over one-and-a-half million extra seats will be provided on the West Midlands-London route every year from 2009.

The improvements to the station facilities at Birmingham International mark the first stage of an investment package for the station. Work is due to start later this year on increasing the number of car parking spaces. The scheme, which will take around 12 months to complete, will create a create an additional 835 spaces, taking the car park capacity up to 2,225 spaces.

Alternative parking spaces will be made available next to the existing car park whilst the work takes place.

For further media information contact the Virgin Trains Press Office on 0845 000 3333, or visit our media website at www.virgintrainsmediaroom.com.

Notes to Editors

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Virgin Trains is the brand name of Virgin Rail Group. We have operated the West Coast passenger train franchise since 1997; the current franchise runs to March 2012.

Virgin Rail Group is owned 51 percent by Virgin Group and 49 percent by Stagecoach

Virgin Trains has been listed as the Best Train Operator in a survey by the Institute of Customer Service; came joint top of the long-distance train operators for passenger satisfaction in the National Passenger Survey and has been voted Best Rail Company by Travel Weekly magazine

During last year passenger numbers on the Birmingham International-London route increased by around 12 percent.

Across its entire network Virgin Trains offers over 25,000 cheap tickets every day, but recently revealed that up to 5,000 each day are not bought.