is booming

BUSINESS travel is booming between Birmingham and Warrington says Virgin Trains.

The company claims passengers figures have gone up by 225 per cent over the past three years.

It operates the CrossCountry services that runs from Glasgow to Birmingham through Bank Quay station.

The average amount of business passengers three years ago was 2,855 per day, and today it is up to 9,272.

Travellers are classified as business passengers depending on what time service they get and what type of ticket they buy.

Virgin Trains says a faster and more regular service is behind the dramatic rise. The line uses the new, quicker Voyager trains that can tilt and punctuality figures are around 85 per cent.

The trains also have the three-pin power points for people who want to use their laptops or charge their mobile phones.

Lee West, a Virgin Trains spokesman said: "The roads are getting more and more congested. People are starting to think 'it's quicker on the train and I can get work done'."

Chris Gibb, Managing Director Virgin CrossCountry, said: "We are now reaping the benefits of a massive investment scheme implemented after Virgin took on the franchise."