Passenger numbers reach record high for Virgin Trains in Scotland
Posted: 3 May 2017 | | 1 comment
Virgin Trains has broken new records for passengers crossing the border on its west coast route, just a year after it was closed due to flooding.
Virgin Trains has broken new records for passengers crossing the border on its west coast route, just a year after it was closed due to flooding.
After operating the west coast route for 20 years, new figures show the high-speed operator carried 294,000 customers between Glasgow and London over a 24-week period ending March 31 – an increase of 28% compared to the same period two years ago.
Entertainment and value on-time at Virgin Trains
The bounce back has coincided with punctuality reaching its highest ever level since privatisation as well as the introduction of Virgin’s revolutionary new on-board entertainment streaming app, BEAM.
An increase in £30 fares between Glasgow and London has also been credited with encouraging more customers to choose train over air travel on the route.
This marked turnaround represents a real boost to the cross-border service that was forced to close for seven weeks in early 2016 due to flooding issues.
Anna Doran, Virgin Trains’ General Manager for Anglo-Scottish services, said: “The closure of our west coast route at Lamington on New Year’s Eve last year was a blow but we’ve worked really hard to get our service back on track. Service innovations such as BEAM, improved punctuality and more low fares have helped drive strong customer satisfaction ratings and attract more people to rail.”
Virgin Trains’ service benefits from cooperation
Following the closure of Lamington viaduct, Virgin Trains worked with the ScotRail Alliance to implement a replacement service, using the rail route via Kilmarnock and Dumfries, while Network Rail worked to repair the bridge.
The number of Virgin Trains that arrive on time has increased by eight percentage points to 89% over the last 20 years thanks to working with Network Rail and other industry partners.
Over the last year, Virgin Trains has doubled the booking horizon from the industry standard of three months and made M-tickets available across all its west coast services.
Yes, it is very pleasing to read this. However, noting that the West Coast Mainline north of Preston was closed on two weekends in April 2017, it is with sadness and frustration that Network Rail, and the concerned Operators forced people for Carlisle and Scotland onto buses at Preston station. This must be the longest bus replacement service in the United Kingdom. Noting the recent money spent on the Settle-Carlisle line on the repairs, as well as the Intermediate Block signaling, and track upgrade, surely the operators could run a diesel shuttle service between Preston and Carlisle via Settle during this Engineering work. Virgin trains certainly has the units, as they managed a similar exercise last year between Carlisle and Glasgow, when the main route via Lockerbie was closed. I also cannot understand the attitude of Network Rail, which after spending another chunk of money, is happy for its asset not to be used, though is willing to pay for Coach services up the M6 when the WCML is closed.
Surely it is time for the train operators and Network Rail to see some common sense and use the rail assets that are available before rails primary competition is used.
Best,
Edward