Virgin Trains is hoping to compete with airlines on the Scotland to Birmingham travel route with more services from December.
The rescheduling of the West Coast line will mean a direct service between Scotland and Birmingham Airport will recommence for the first time in six years, with 24 of the 28 services on the route to be extended to London Euston.
Around 3,300 extra seats will be added each day as a result. Virgin Trains hopes the services will entice those from Coventry, Milton Keynes and Sandwell & Dudley to travel up to Birmingham or Scotland for cheaper flights during the school holidays.
It is also set to increase the number of visitors to Birmingham, which saw a record 33.8 million head to the city in 2012.
“The news that Virgin Trains is expanding its capacity and services into Birmingham will provide a significant boost for the local economy, by helping to bring new visitors and investors to the city. Tourists and businesses alike need to reach locations as quickly and easily as possible – and an increase in rail services to Birmingham will provide another reason for them to come here,” said Neil Rami, chief executive of Marketing Birmingham on the news.
“Birmingham’s transport infrastructure is expanding rapidly, with Virgin Trains’ passengers set to benefit from the redevelopment of New Street station and Birmingham Airport’s runway extension, which will open up direct routes into markets such as China and the West Coast of the USA.”
Virgin Trains’ passenger numbers on its services between Edinburgh and Glasgow to Birmingham have more than doubled.
“Our plans for December represent the latest phase in our development of services on the West Coast mainline, as we strive to make the most of this iconic route by providing more trains and more seats, seven days a week. The success of recent years shows the enduring popularity of the route, and the potential that remains,” said Chris Gibb, chief operating officer at Virgin Trains.