West Coast Mainline Capacity Will Be Exhausted Long Before High Speed 2 is Built Says Virgin Trains

LONDON, February 15 - The House of Commons Transport Committee report 'Priorities for
investment in the railways' today draws attention to the need to maintain
investment in 'classic lines' while High Speed 2 is being built.

Tony Collins, Chief Executive of Virgin Trains, who gave evidence to the
Committee said:

'The Committee has issued a clear warning that excitement surrounding the
development of High Speed rail shouldn't lead us to neglect the 'classic'
lines which are essential to our economic health. The West Coast mainline
will be full before the end of the decade if we take an investment holiday
while building High Speed 2. After all the improvements we've made we don't
want to see passengers lose faith in rail through years of overcrowding.'

Virgin Trains introduced its Virgin High Frequency timetable in December
2008, slashing journey times and increasing capacity by 30%. Outstanding
growth since then has seen 15% growth in passengers.

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. 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 media information contact the Virgin Trains Press Office on +44(0)845-000-3333 or visit our Media Room website at www.virgintrains.co.uk/about/media-room/