Record Numbers Flock to Trains as Air Disruption Strikes

LONDON, May 20, 2010 - Record numbers of airline customers have turned to Virgin Trains, with a
250% increase in passengers travelling between Glasgow and London in recent
weeks, and a seven-fold increase in passenger numbers on its London to
Holyhead route, which links with ferry services to Ireland.

The dramatic recent rise - in the four weeks to May 1 - follows five
years of continuing growth on Virgin Trains' long-distance routes where there
is airline competition. Advance booking information suggests that many
frustrated airline passengers have now turned their backs on domestic
flights, with reservations for the summer already showing increases on last
year.

With at-seat power points, Wi-Fi, improved mobile phone reception and an
onboard shop on all trains, Virgin Trains has seen its market share of the
Manchester-London rail/air market increase from 38% in 2003 to 80% today.
Since 2004 rail's share of the Glasgow-London market has increased from 6% to
18%. On the Liverpool-London route domestic airlines saw the light and have
long since abandoned the route.

Figures released by the Civil Aviation Authority also show that there has
been a 12% year-on-year fall in domestic passenger traffic in the UK as train
travel proves ever more popular.

Virgin Trains' Chief Executive Officer Tony Collins said: "There is a
clear trend which shows passengers are questioning the need for domestic air
travel. The 'on/off' threats of strike action by British Airways have damaged
domestic air travellers' confidence that they will be able to travel when
they want to. Thousands have already tried our trains and seen the benefits
that rail can offer. The rail industry now needs to ensure that it responds
to increases in passenger numbers with an increase in capacity. We have coped
with the surge in demand and need to make sure we can deal with that growth
long-term."

Virgin Trains generally has seen growth of around 20% so far this year,
well above the national average and this will substantially increase the 26
million passenger journeys made last year.

The number of former airline customers now using Virgin Trains' services
supports recent research by the Association of Train Operating Companies
(ATOC) that a 'fundamental shift' is taking place in the nation's travelling
habits.

ATOC's figures show that, on the ten main domestic air routes over the
last four years, total journeys by rail have risen by 31%, whilst journeys by
plane have fallen by 19%.

Notes to Editors

Images of Virgin Trains and the company's operations are available in the
Image Library on our online Media Room website
www.virgintrains.co.uk/about/media-room/

You can subscribe to receive alerts to new press releases by visiting
www.virgintrains.co.uk/about/media-room/

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. On 19
January 2010 the company was 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. In 2009 Virgin Trains was voted Best UK Domestic Train
Service by Business Traveller magazine for the second year running; and named
Best Rail Operator in the 2009 Group Leisure Awards, run by Group Leisure,
the magazine for group travel organisers.

For further information contact the Virgin Trains Press Office on +44(0)845-000-3333