Advantages Nice trains, mostly on time, has an onboard shop, large route network
Disadvantages Some grumpy staff members, some tickets may be expensive.
My experience of Virgin Trains is that it is one of the better train companies in the UK. Seeing as my experiences on Arriva and First Great Western have generally been below par this may not be saying that much!
About the company: It all started in 1996 Virgin Trains won the Cross-Country and West Coast franchises. The network is vast covering from Penzance to Aberdeen.The Trains: The trains are either Voyager or Pendolino. They can reach speeds of 140 mph and tilt around curves, pretty exciting! If you are unlucky you may be on one of the older trains, which are frankly, a bit rubbish.

First Class is posh. You have a big roomy seat, which reclines and a first class host/hostess to provide you with a free food and beverages and a newspaper. The website gives you details of the weekly changing menus. At weekends and bank holidays you just receive free drinks and biscuits, which must be collected from the onboard shop. There are First Class Lounges at London Euston, Manchester Piccadilly, Stoke-on-Trent, Birmingham New Street, Coventry and Wolverhampton; they are quite similar to airline lounges. You can upgrade to first class at a weekend or a bank holiday for £10 to £20 per journey.
Onboard Shop: The shop sells goodies such as sandwiches, fair-tradehot drinks, biscuits, crisps and cakes. It also has a few books and magazines and little things like batteries and ibuprofen. Sometimes the shop is closed for a while and two 'customer service assistants' push a trolley down the aisle. I find this a bit pointless as this means the shop is closed for the duration of this and it blocks the aisle up as well! I have in my time enjoyed a ploughman's sandwich for £2.25 and a cheeseburger for £3.50. Both have been surprisingly tasty and good value for money.My experiences: I have travelled quite a bit on Virgin, between Euston and Birmingham and vice-versa, and between Reading and Southampton. I have always had a seat and been happy enough. I realise that if I took the service every day I would be more likely to be unhappy and packed into a carriage with loads of other commuters! I have travelled peak time and off peak and have always been happy.
The staff: The first class hosts and hostesses have always been pleasant and helpful.
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denella 30/03/2013 17:36
mattydalton 23/07/2010 18:16
I used to have to use these to travel from Chester to London every week. The service is great, but they can be a tad expensive! I am glad the company was paying...
jayin 25/01/2007 01:32
Timbo3107 15/01/2007 21:02
Definetly my preference over flying. A train gives a person time to think as well as relax. I mean when was the last time you heard train passengers putting on seat belts becuase of turbulence? Regards, Tim
mart34 25/12/2006 22:06
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