Scrap Leaflets Provide Stunning Artwork for Passengers Using Virgin Trains' First Class Lounge at Manchester Piccadilly

MANCHESTER, England, April 6, 2011 - Thousands of out of date timetables and ticket wallets have been turned
into stunning artwork creations, which have gone on display in Virgin Trains'
First Class Lounge at Manchester Piccadilly station.

The stunning creations have been made by acclaimed Manchester artist
Adnan Bayyat. The scrap material has been sculptured into flower arrangements
and swans. The artwork is part of a joint initiative between Virgin Trains
and Adnan to encourage the sustainable use of waste materials in a creative
way and ties in with his 'The Solution to Pollution' initiative.

Virgin Trains' Station Manager for Manchester Karen Grimshaw said:
"Adnan's work is widely acclaimed and we are delighted that he had produced a
range of stunning creations for all of our passengers using the First Class
Lounge to enjoy. The Lounge provides an ideal venue for Adnan to showcase his
work and promotes a strong environmental message."

Adnan has also taken a couple of old and worn-out Virgin Trains uniforms
and turned them into a wedding dress, to show that it is possible to recycle
almost anything.

Adnan Bayyat said: "Many thousands of tonnes of printed materials end up
in landfill every year, but that doesn't have to be the case. Environmental
initiatives are high on the agenda at Virgin Trains and I have been able to
show them what can be done with old leaflets. The Virgin wedding dress, from
old uniform items, was also an appropriate item for me to create in Royal
Wedding year."

Images available:

Pic ML1

A passenger admires that flower arrangement in the Virgin'
Trains First Class Lounge at Manchester.

Pic ML2

Adnan Bayyat with a display of his material in the Virgin
Trains' First Class Lounge at Manchester Piccadilly station. Everything is
made out of surplus leaflets, timetables and ticket wallets.

Pic ML3

Virgin Trains Customer Service Assistant Leanne Hackney models
the Virgin Wedding Dress made out of old uniform items.

Notes to editors:

- Adnan Bayyat has a website at www.adnanbayyat.com and can be
emailed at info@adnanbayyatt.com.

- 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. 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.

Pictures accompanying this release are available through the PA
Photowire. They can be downloaded from www.pa-mediapoint.press.net
or viewed at www.mediapoint.press.net or www.prnewswire.co.uk.

For further information please contact the Virgin Trains Press Office on 0845-00-3333,
or Adnan Bayyat on +44(0)7724-378093