For the business traveller (Virgin Trains)

Member Name: honey000

Product:	Virgin Trains
Date:	10/01/09 (193 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Free drink and food and comfort

Disadvantages: Expensive - delays

I have to travel frequently with work so have tried all the possible routes to Birmingham and Manchester from London. I have driven, flown ( to Manchester) and taken Virgin Trains.

Now I know that this week there has been well publicised trouble with the trains here and I have been subject to quite a lot of delays on Virgin in the past but I would still choose to use them again.

Why?

Work pays for me to go first class so I always get a comfortable seat.

If you turn up on the day and buy a return to Manchester it is approximately £180 - £200 return standard class and close to £400 return (193.50 each way) so whatever you do book in advance. You can get a deal for less than £100 return first class on the Trainline.com

For business travellers the Virgin pedalino trains are brilliant. There are power packs at your seats and plenty of room. If, by any chance the train is delayed then you are almost guarenteed a seat in first class so another reason to go for this.

The seats are comfortable and the journey time to Birmingham is 90 mins and to Manchester around 2.5 hours.

Even if you buy a first class advance ticket you get to use the first class lounge (unlike on National Express) - free wifi, tea, coffee and snacks plus news papers.

On board you get free newspapers and food and drink. Nothing beats the friendly and professional staff coming through with a stiff G&T or a beer or a wine after a horrible, hard day at work.

Once the train was delayed so the staff just bought through bottles of wine and lots of food and told us all to enjoy ourselves - we did!

Generally though the service is quick and reliable, the trains are clean and the staff are only too pleased to help. Just a shame that Network Rail cant provide the infrastructure!

Summary: Great for using on business trips!