In this issue
Virgin Trains names train after Scottish cultural icon Charles Rennie Mackintosh
Testing of Virgin Azuma fleet gathers pace in Scotland
Making Wi-Fi free for passengers along our west coast route
Launching the UK’s first train driver apprenticeship scheme
Transforming old uniforms in pioneering recycling scheme
Leading the way in passenger satisfaction
Virgin Trains names train after Scottish cultural icon Charles Rennie Mackintosh

Virgin Trains has named one of its trains after one of Scotland’s most famous cultural icons in celebration of its role in serving Glasgow.

 

The Charles Rennie Mackintosh Express departed Scotland’s biggest city on Monday, March 19 in support of Mackintosh 150, a year-long programme of events throughout 2018 celebrating the 150th anniversary of the birth of Glasgow’s renowned artist, architect and designer.

 

The 390008 Pendolino train, adorned with Mackintosh’s trademark moustache on the front and his name displayed in his own lettering on plaques on either side, arrived into Glasgow Central Station at 09.45am before its nameplate was unveiled by Michael Stewart, Virgin Trains’ General Manager for Scotland on the west coast route, and Councillor David McDonald, Chair of Glasgow Life and Deputy Leader of Glasgow City Council.

 

Virgin Trains’ customers across the west coast route are being encouraged to take photos of themselves while standing on the platform next to the moustache or nameplate. They can find out where the Mack Express will be on any particular day by tweeting the @VirginTrains team with the #trackthemack hashtag.

 

Passengers who take the best selfies with the train will be eligible to win two First Class return tickets for travel from London, Birmingham or Preston to Glasgow between April 16 and June 30 and free entry to a major new Mackintosh exhibition taking place in the city.

 

It is the first time in nearly 15 years that Virgin Trains has named a train in Scotland on its west coast route. Two other trains have previously been named after Charles Rennie Mackintosh, the first in 1982 and the second in 1996, shortly before Virgin Trains took over services between Glasgow and London.

 

The last train named after the Glasgow artist was withdrawn from service when Virgin introduced its fleet of tilting Pendolino and Super Voyager trains, allowing regular journey times between Glasgow and London to be cut from more than five hours to 4hr32min.

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