LONDON, March 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Virgin Trains is urgently working with clubs involved in the FA Cup semi finals over the weekend of 16/17 April to ensure thousands of supporters can travel to and from London quickly and safely.
Virgin Trains has already confirmed five charter trains and is advising clubs on how to charter further trains from other companies. Supporters are recommended to get in touch with their respective travel clubs to find out details of charters that are either confirmed or are being planned.
Chris Gibb, Virgin Trains' Chief Operating Officer said today: "Moving large numbers of people after any big evening sporting event poses particular challenges for the rail industry especially coming together as the same weekend as the London Marathon and another large football match. The use of charter trains brings as much capacity as possible into use, means fans can have confidence in their travel arrangements and clubs are able to look after their supporters."
Those not travelling by charter services will still be able to travel by Virgin Trains to both matches with extra trains planned from Euston after both the Saturday and Sunday matches. Clearly, however, with each Pendolino train capable of carrying a maximum of 439 seated passengers, but with a crowd of around 80,000 expected for both matches, supporters are being encouraged to make use of charter services organised through their respective clubs.
Details of additional trains will be available on http://www.nationalrail.co.uk as soon as timings have been confirmed with Network Rail.
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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.
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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.
SOURCE Virgin Trains
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