Virgin Trains has unveiled the first of its new fleet
of trains in a ceremony at King’s Cross attended by Sir Richard Branson.
Set to revolutionise travel on the East Coast from 2018, the Virgin Azuma
will be one of the most advanced trains on the UK’s rail network.
Literally translated as “East” in Japanese, the Virgin Azuma
pays homage to the new train’s lineage and to the East Coast route.
With 65 trains providing an extra 12,200 seats for a new and expanded
timetable, the fleet of Virgin Azumas will increase capacity into King’s Cross by 28 per cent during peak time.
Whilst the trains will initially reach speeds of up to 125mph, Virgin
Trains has today announced the creation of a cross-industry working
group, including Network Rail, to investigate the potential for the East
Coast route to enable their operation at 140mph.Secretary of State for Transport, Patrick McLoughlin, said: “The state-of-the-art Intercity Express trains heading to Virgin will transform rail travel for passengers between London, the north east and Scotland. These new trains, combined with Virgin’s exciting plans for the franchise, will provide more services, more seats, and faster journeys, helping to place passengers at the heart of the railway.”
Sir Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group, said, “This is a hugely important moment for passengers on the East Coast. A line which has witnessed the historic Flying Scotsman and Mallard will now see passenger services transformed with the UK’s most advanced long distance trains. Our customers on the West Coast have already seen what Virgin can bring to train travel and how the Pendolinos have made a huge difference to speed and comfort. Our new fleet of Azumas will bring a similar transformation to the East Coast, and propel one of the UK’s most prestigious lines into the 21st century.”
The new trains will also have:
- Faster acceleration: The Azumas will accelerate more quickly, slicing up to 22 minutes off East Coast journeys and making 4hr London-Edinburgh journeys, and 2hr London-Leeds journeys, the norm. They will accelerate from 0-125mph around a minute quicker than the current fleet1
- New direct services: The faster journeys will make direct routes to new destinations such as Middlesbrough and Huddersfield possible, as well as a big increase in through services to places such as Harrogate and Lincoln
- Greater comfort: The trains will have some of the best leg-room on the rail network, as well as ergonomically designed seats in both first and standard
- Virgin’s unique feel: Both the interior and the exterior of the new fleet with have that distinctive Virgin atmosphere
- Lower emissions: The trains will be lighter and more energy efficient, making them some of the most environmentally friendly in the UK
- Improved facilities: The trains will have faster and free Wi-Fi, an improved traffic-light reservation system2, power sockets for every seat and more overhead luggage space
- power sockets for every seat and more overhead luggage space
- Buffet cars: An onboard shop is a key part of the experience for passengers
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