Virgin Trains has celebrated its 20th birthday on the West Coast route, where passenger journeys have grown to 37 million a year.  

Hungry passengers have been served over five million English breakfasts whilst travelling a combined total of nearly 335 million miles, three and a half times the distance to the sun.

The maiden voyage in 1997 was unveiled by Sir Richard Branson at London Euston. The first ever Virgin Train was named ‘Mission: Impossible’, after suggestions that the job could not be done, and since then the fleet has grown to 76 trains serving 49 stations.

Over 20 years, Virgin Trains has introduced a number of innovations to British train travel, including:

2004 – First timetabled 125mph Pendolino models (tilting trains) introduced to the UK on the West Coast

2008 – High Frequency timetable introduced – increased services and reduced journey times

2012 – New 11-car Pendolinos introduced to accommodate growing passenger numbers

2013 – Hourly services introduced between London and Scotland

Phil Whittingham, MD for Virgin Trains West Coast, said: “Here at Virgin Trains we’re proud to have been at the forefront of innovating British train travel for the last 20 years. Since taking over the franchise, we’ve transformed the West Coast and made it one of the most popular lines in Europe. We have constantly and consistently challenged the status quo, and sought to lead the way in the rail industry by introducing new services and initiatives that benefit passengers.”