UK based Virgin Trains will put free, superfast Wi-Fi on all of its 76 trains servicing the West Coast Main Line as part of deal which allows it to continue running the franchise for another three years.
The deal was struck between Virgin Trains and the Department for Transport (DfT) earlier this week, but free Wi-Fi isn’t the only improvement the firm is offering as part of the contract. Virgin will introduce a loyalty scheme for regular customers and plans to invest more than £20 million in station improvements.
Moreover, first-class carriages on more than 21 trains will be transformed into a standard sections, meaning there will be 5,500 more standard seats available each day, reports marketingmagazine.co.uk.
Patrick McCall, Virgin Trains’ executive co-chairman, said the negotiations with the DfT weren’t easy, but Virgin is pleased to have finally agreed on a deal.
“This deal is great news for passengers and taxpayers, with significant benefits for our customers as well as a big increase in the money we pay to government,” he explained. “We know Wi-Fi is high on our customers’ priorities and we’re delighted that we’re going to be able to offer them free and superfast Wi-Fi.”
Virgin said it will also be getting more environmentally friendly, as it plans to cut CO2 emission across all its stations, reports liverpoolecho.co.uk.
There is no word yet on when the new Wi-Fi service will be installed.
