West Coast Rail Operator Looks to Grow East Coast Passenger Numbers

LONDON, July 29, 2010 - As Virgin Trains prepares its bid to run services on the East Coast rail
route, official figures show its improved West Coast services have resulted
in a massive switch to rail.

Across the rail industry growth is a very moderate 0.8% (comparing
2009/10 with 2008/09). In some cases, such as East Coast, passenger numbers
have shrunk (-3.8%). By contrast, Virgin Trains has attracted 15.8% more
customers to its services.

The figures also show Virgin Trains receiving the top scores among
long-distance franchisees for both overall satisfaction and value for money.

Paul Furze-Waddock, Virgin Trains' Business Development Director said:

'Customers are turning to rail on the West Coast in record numbers. It's
no accident that Virgin Trains is seeing such spectacular growth - it's
because we have invested heavily in improving our services. Modern trains
together with faster and more frequent services mean that for more and more
people we are the preferred choice for long distance travel on the West
Coast.

We will be meeting as many people as possible on the East Coast to
develop ideas for improvements on that route and we'll be ready with a strong
proposal for running East Coast services when the Department for Transport
invites bids. We're delivering for West Coast passengers, now we want to do
the same for those using the East Coast.'

    Notes for editors:

    Official figures for Virgin Trains

    Journeys 2009/10                                              26.6m

    Difference in journeys 2009/10 compared with 2008/09         +15.8%

    Customers satisfied or very satisfied with
    overall journey (spring 2010)                                 90.0%

    Customers satisfied or very satisfied with
    value for money (spring 2010)                                 63.5%

The Office of Rail Regulation's National Rail Trends 2009 - 2010 Yearbook
can be viewed here.

www.rail-reg.gov.uk/server/show/nav.2026

Virgin Trains company information

Virgin Trains is the brand name of Virgin Rail Group, which is owned 51
percent by Virgin Group and 49 percent by Stagecoach.

Virgin Trains has operated the West Coast passenger train franchise since
1997; the current franchise runs to March 2012.

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