On the same day as MP's at Westminster were debating the Government's decision not to award the new West Coast franchise to Virgin Trains,  readers of Business Traveller magazine have for the sixth year in succession voted the company Best UK Domestic Rail Operator.    

 

Tony Collins, Chief Executive Virgin Rail Group, said today: "It is a great endorsement by the business travel community who use our services to have voted us the winner and together with the 170,000 people who petitioned the Government to review the recent franchise decision appears to confirm the high regard with which our customers rate us."  

 

The award was collected by Virgin Trains Communications Director Arthur Leathley, at a ceremony held on Monday 17 September at The Royal Garden Hotel in London. Virgin Trains beat a strong field of rail companies including East Coast, Heathrow Express and First Great Western.

 

Virgin Trains currently has passenger satisfaction levels at 91% the highest of any long distance franchise operator and has seen its passenger numbers more than double over the last six years from 14m to 30m annually.