Network Rail Improvement Work Means Changes to Virgin Trains' Services at Spring Bank Holiday Weekend

LONDON, May 17, 2011 - There will be alterations to services over the Spring Bank Holiday
weekend because of route improvement work but the principal travel days of
Friday and Bank Holiday Monday afternoon and evening will see normal weekday
services operating.

On the Saturday, Sunday and Monday of the holiday weekend there will be
work taking place at various times between Euston and Rugby, Coventry and
Birmingham International, Crewe and Liverpool, Crewe and Wigan, and between
Oxenholme and Glasgow/Edinburgh.

Saturday, 28 May

Because of route improvement work between Crewe and Wigan and between
Oxenholme and Glasgow/Edinburgh services from London Euston to Glasgow
Central will terminate at Crewe and services from Birmingham to
Glasgow/Edinburgh will be diverted via Manchester and terminate at Preston.
There will be a train shuttle service between Wigan and Oxenholme. Rail
replacement coach services will run between Crewe and Warrington and
Warrington and Wigan for local journeys. There will also be replacement coach
services between Oxenholme and Carlisle, and between Carlisle and
Glasgow/Edinburgh.

Sunday 29 May

Because of route improvement work between Euston and Rugby involving the
closure of two out of the normal four lines, Euston to Birmingham and Euston
to Manchester services will be reduced to two services per hour instead of
the normal three per hour that would normally operate from lunchtime over
these two routes. There will be no direct services between Euston and Chester
while Euston to Holyhead services will run between Chester and Holyhead only.

The line between Coventry and Birmingham International will be closed all
day and trains from Euston to the West Midlands will be diverted via Nuneaton
to Birmingham New Street and Wolverhampton. Replacement coaches will run
between Rugby and Birmingham International serving Coventry.

The line in the Runcorn area will be closed to allow route improvement
work to take place. Euston to Liverpool services will run as far as Crewe
from where customers will need to take a replacement coach service to
Liverpool also serving Runcorn.

Because of route improvement work between Crewe and Wigan and between
Carlisle and Glasgow/Edinburgh services from London Euston to Glasgow Central
will terminate at Crewe. Services from Birmingham to Glasgow/Edinburgh will
not run. There will be a train shuttle service between Wigan and Oxenholme.
Rail replacement coach services will run between Crewe, Warrington and Wigan
with some fast coaches from Crewe direct to Preston. There will also be
replacement coach services between Oxenholme and Carlisle, and between
Carlisle and Glasgow/Edinburgh.

Bank Holiday Monday 30 May

Because of route improvement work between Euston and Rugby until 12:00
involving the closure of two out of the normal four lines, Euston to
Birmingham/Wolverhampton and Euston to Manchester services will be reduced to
two services per hour instead of the normal three per hour that would
normally operate over these two routes

The line between Coventry and Birmingham International will be closed
until 12:00 and trains from Euston to the West Midlands will be diverted via
Nuneaton to Birmingham New Street and Wolverhampton. Replacement coaches will
run between Rugby and Birmingham International serving Coventry.

The line in the Runcorn area will be closed until 12:00 to allow route
improvement work to take place. Euston to Liverpool services will run as far
as Runcorn from where customers will need to take a replacement coach service
to Liverpool.

Notes to Editors

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the West Coast passenger train franchise since 1997; the current franchise
runs to March 2012 and we have been invited to bid for the new franchise.

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 2007 and this was renewed in
2010; the IIP Gold award was achieved in 2011.

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