Stafford MP Jeremy Lefroy has welcomed Virgin Trains’ announcement of investments into the West Coast Main Line.
Virgin Trains will continue to run the West Coast franchise through to 31st March 2019 and between now and then will invest in free and faster Wi-Fi for their passengers. They will deliver a £7.5 million upgrade on their 56 Pendolino trains, with new on-board equipment to allow free Wi-Fi for all Pendolino Customers. The work will begin in May 2018.
They will use the latest technology to ensure that they are compatible with 5G mobile phone networks, which are anticipate to soon be available, and are also investigating how to remove black spots on the network to ensure customers can work effectively throughout their journey.
As a further part of the new contract they will be putting into operation a few new proposals to address passenger priorities, including:
- Upgrading all station ticket machines so they accept contactless payments.
- Allocating a further £3 million to enhance station and on-board environments, including more seating at stations, and improved toilets, lighting and carpets on trains.
- Providing more staff at stations during busy times to improve accessibility.
- Creating new apprenticeship opportunities, including for train driver roles.
Commenting, Jeremy said:
“In this new digital age it is encouraging to see Virgin Trains investing in technology that will benefit their customers. I know from my own experience travelling every week to and from my constituency just how much work you can get done on a train, and how frustrating bad signal and Wi-Fi is. I’m looking forward to hearing from my constituents how these investments make their journeys easier and more productive.”
Notes
If you are interested in applying for a Virgin Trains apprenticeship the details can be found at the websites below. The Apprentice Train Driver application closes on the 2nd of March.