FA Cup Semi Finals at Wembley: Saturday/Sunday 16/17 April

By Virgin Trains, PRNE
Thursday, March 17, 2011

LONDON, March 18, 2011 - Virgin Trains is urgently working with clubs involved in the FA Cup semi
finals over the weekend of 16/17 April to ensure thousands of supporters can
travel to and from London quickly and safely.

Virgin Trains has already confirmed five charter trains and is advising
clubs on how to charter further trains from other companies. Supporters are
recommended to get in touch with their respective travel clubs to find out
details of charters that are either confirmed or are being planned.

Chris Gibb, Virgin Trains' Chief Operating Officer said today: "Moving
large numbers of people after any big evening sporting event poses particular
challenges for the rail industry especially coming together as the same
weekend as the London Marathon and another large football match. The use of
charter trains brings as much capacity as possible into use, means fans can
have confidence in their travel arrangements and clubs are able to look after
their supporters."

Those not travelling by charter services will still be able to travel by
Virgin Trains to both matches with extra trains planned from Euston after
both the Saturday and Sunday matches. Clearly, however, with each Pendolino
train capable of carrying a maximum of 439 seated passengers, but with a
crowd of around 80,000 expected for both matches, supporters are being
encouraged to make use of charter services organised through their respective
clubs.

Details of additional trains will be available on
www.nationalrail.co.uk as soon as timings have been confirmed with
Network Rail.

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 recognised in numerous industry awards. In 2010
the company has been named Best Rail Operator of the Year at the Travel Globe
Awards (voted for by readers of the Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday and Evening
Standard), and Best Rail Operator in the Group Leisure Awards (which we also
won in 2009).. In 2009 we were also voted Best UK Domestic Train Service by
Business Traveller magazine for the second year running. Virgin Trains first
achieved Investors In People accreditation in 2007and this was renewed in
2010; the IIP Gold award was achieved in 2011.

For further information please contact the Virgin Trains Press Desk on
+44(0)845-000-3333 or visit virgintrainsmediaroom.com

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