LONDON, January 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

- With Photos

Virgin Trains has scooped two top awards in the annual Cheshire Best Station awards, held on 18 January 2012.

Both Crewe station (for the fourth year running) and Runcorn station (third year running) won awards this year.

Crewe (Principal Stations Award)

John Hulme, Organiser of Cheshire Best Kept Station, said: "Our Principal Stations Award celebrates Cheshire's larger railway stations which we know are a challenge to upkeep especially if that station is used by over three million passengers a year. New Station Manager, Sheila Breeze, has certainly stood up to that challenge and it is obvious that Virgin's elite customer training, matched with a manager that has worked up through the ranks of the company, has played a large part in the success of the station. All this has certainly led to Sheila and her team at Crewe understanding passengers' needs and requirements."

Sheila Breeze, Virgin Trains' Station Manager for Crewe, began her railway career at the station in 1998. Sheila said: "I am delighted that the hard work and enthusiasm of the Virgin Trains' staff at Crewe have been recognised. We have a great team here and it has been a pleasure to lead them since I became Station Manager a year ago."

Runcorn (Best Staffed Station Award):

John Hulme said: "Our Best Staffed Station Award is for the staffed station that provides its customers with the best customer experience. Keith Millard and his staff at Runcorn Station should be congratulated on the impeccable service that this busy customer friendly station provides its passengers. Once again, it is clear than Virgin's investment in its people shines through in the reports we receive from the travelling public."

Keith Millard, Virgin Trains' Station Manager for Runcorn, said: "This award is an accolade for my team who pride themselves on providing excellent customer service, which they deliver consistently day in, day out. I am very proud to be part of the team at Runcorn as Station Manager."

Notes to Editors

Visit our Media Room website - http://www.virgintrains.co.uk/about/media-room/ - for an Image Library of pictures of Virgin Trains and the company's operations, or to subscribe to receive alerts to new press releases.

Virgin Trains is the brand name of Virgin Rail Group (VRG), which is owned 51 percent by Virgin Group and 49 percent by Stagecoach. We have operated the West Coast passenger train franchise since 1997.

The current franchise was due to run until 31 March 2012, but the Department for Transport announced on 27 October 2011 that it would be extended until 8 December 2012. We have been short-listed for the new franchise that will start on 9 December 2012 and run until 31 March 2026, with an option to be extended by up to 20 months.

Virgin Trains has been recognised in numerous industry awards. In 2011 the company was named Best Rail Operator in the Group Leisure Awards (which we also won in 2009 and 2010). In 2011 Virgin Trains won the British Quality Foundation's Achievement Award for Customer Satisfaction. In 2010 we were 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 we were voted Best UK Domestic Train Service by Business Traveller magazine for the second year running.

Virgin Trains first achieved Investors In People accreditation in 2007 and this was renewed in 2010; the IIP Gold award was achieved in 2011. In May 2011 Virgin Trains was awarded accreditation against the criteria of the European Foundation for Quality Management's (EFQM) Excellence Model. The company's Learning and Development team won a National Training Awards 2011 West Midlands award for its Coaching Culture programme.

Note to Editors:

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SOURCE Virgin Trains