Virgin Trains makes pledges

Virgin Trains is launching a pledge card to mark the inaugural journey of the first high-speed Voyager train.

The card lists Virgin’s commitment to scrap all existing trains and introduce 820 brand new rail coaches. It also states that the company will negotiate deals to raise &£2bn for new trains, bring back the tilting train and introduce a 140mph train. It also promises that the frequency of trains will double.

Future marketing campaigns are expected to include the pledge cards.

Virgin Rail Group is owned by Virgin (51 per cent) and Stagecoach (49 per cent).

The Voyager trains will be rolled out to the entire CrossCountry network in the next two years but will initially be used on the Birmingham, Reading and Brighton routes. Travel time is expected to be cut by up to 20 per cent.

For the 1997 General Election, Labour issued election pledge cards focusing on five promises from health to education. These have since been closely scrutinised.