Welcome to this final edition of our quarterly newsletter, which provides a snapshot of the fantastic work we at Virgin Trains have worked so hard to deliver for our customers for the past 22 years. We look back with immense pride, having led the industry in delivering faster journeys to more destinations, harnessing new technology and always putting the customer first.

Our record is one of challenging the status quo. We introduced industry- first innovations like the tilting Pendolino trains and the onboard entertainment service, BEAM, and in July we became the first train operator to offer 100% of its ticket types digitally.

As you will be aware, First Trenitalia has been announced as the successful bidder to run the West Coast Partnership and will operate services on the West Coast Main Line from December 2019.

Looking ahead to the remaining months, our focus is to continue to deliver the best possible experience for our passengers and the communities that we serve across the country. We will be working closely with First Trenitalia to ensure a seamless handover for our customers, who are being reassured that they should book and travel as normal.

Up until the moment of handover, our charitable and community activities are continuing at full speed, from upcycled Virgin Trains uniforms for homeless charities, to working with the Community Rail Partnerships along the route.  I hope you enjoy reading about some of our fantastic initiatives in this edition.

Phil Whittingham, Managing Director of Virgin Trains