Virgin trains - experience to remember (Virgin Trains)

Member Name: tangoman84

Product:	Virgin Trains
Date:	16/10/09 (61 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Excellent trains, brilliant staff, comfortable and quick journeys, value for money

Disadvantages: None

I have used Virgin Trains on a couple of different occassions now with my main one I can offer opinion on when I travelled from Glasgow to Birmingham New Street about 3 years ago.
Virgin trains are one of the big players in the rail franchise game and have made a huge investment since they won the rights to the franchises it operates on the development and implementation of new high speed tilting trains across the network (with Richard Branson campaigning for the improvements to the lines to be done to a higher standard to allow for the trains being invested in to actually reach their true potential but being turned down due to cost involved).
The trains themselves are well designed both inside and out and offer great comfort and space with fast journey times and friendly well turned out staff.
The main journey I did was a very long journey and one which I would normally have hated but I found that once on the train and settled in the running was smooth and quiet and allowed me time to sleep with the offer of quiet zones on the train an excellent idea and one that I think should be offered on all trains.
The staff were very friendly, helpfull and also looked very smart with their uniforms like the rest of the Virgin trains experience well designed and thought out.
The service I found to be fairly well priced when taking it against other train operaters prices within the UK, although like many people within the UK I fully agree that we overpay for a service lacking the quality, efficiency or punctuality of other countries worldwide when our transport system used to be highly envied.

Positives:

- Excellent trains which look excellent both inside and outside
- Quiet zones
- Fantastic staff
- Value for money
- Continued investment in improvements to their trains and staff
- Easy to book tickets thanks to a well designed website
- Simple service and a great experience
- Fast speed trains with a smooth ride and quietness that is rare on our rails
- Plenty of comfortable and spacious seating

Negatives:

- Lack of government investment means that Virgin trains new stock can't operate at their top speeds

Virgin trains is one of the companies leading the way for the future of the UK's transport industry and a company who are not scared of investment.

Summary: This is one of the leaders of the continued improvements to the rail network