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Archive
2001-09-17 VIR-001
Virgin Trains
Voyager launch - Manchester
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Press release
Virgin Trains
Voyager launch - Manchester
Manchester becomes the first city in the UK today to see the replacement of the old Virgin CrossCountry trains with the new 125 mph Voyager trains.
The Right Worshipful Lord Mayor of Manchester, Councillor John Smith will lead a civic welcome for the first Voyager train to replace an existing train dating from the mid 1960’s. He will then wave away one of CrossCountry's oldest trains out of the station, before naming the new train ""Mancunian Voyager"" and then flagging it into its first public service on the 13.09 hrs Manchester to Birmingham International.
Chris Tibbits, Deputy Chief Executive Virgin Trains, said today that: ""Manchester is one of the major hubs of the CrossCountry network and today is just the first step towards a fast regional network that links Manchester to Reading, Birmingham, Gatwick, Brighton, Portsmouth, Bournemouth and Scotland. In a year's time we shall be offering Manchester hourly services to 115 towns and cities around the UK"".
Virgin Trains has committed to a £1 billion investment to renew its entire CrossCountry fleet with brand new trains. Until yesterday, the first Voyager trains were operating additional shuttle services between Birmingham and Brighton. From today, they go into front-line service replacing the ageing locomotive-hauled fleet.
The Voyager trains which have sports car performance have an acceleration capability of 0-60 mph in just 60 seconds. At a powerful 3,000 hp per train, the Voyager trains are bringing rail travel right into the twenty first Century.
Customer benefits on board include audio entertainment at every seat, an on board shop, lap top & mobile phone sockets at every seat and a Club Car that offers an at seat service throughout the journey.
The electric Pendolino trains for the Manchester - London service are currently under construction by Alstom Transportation and will be introduced in time for the Commonwealth Games next summer.
Railnews Archive ::: 2001-09-17 VIR-001
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