Virgin Trains opens stylish First Class Lounge in Doncaster

A new look First Class Lounge has been opened at Doncaster station today as Virgin Trains continues to give its east coast route a makeover.

Eight lounges between London and Edinburgh have been given the Virgin treatment, doubling the seating capacity and providing more options to hold meetings, work and unwind in a stylish environment.

A splash of red has been introduced into the innovative lounge designs, which include new meeting points, desks for customers to work at and relaxation spots to unwind. Free wifi and powerpoints have been provided throughout, along with soft drinks, snacks and newspapers.

Doncaster’s new lounge can comfortably host 30 customers – almost than double the previous number of 16 customers – and the investment will help Virgin Trains drive further growth in First Class travel among business people who can prepare for meetings onboard and leisure passengers treating themselves to a luxury journey.

In the first year since Virgin Trains took over services on the east coast route, First Class travel has grown by 6%.

The latest improvements come after Virgin Trains embarked on a £21m refurbishment of its trains, including putting leather seat covers in First Class.

Doncaster is the third lounge to open this week following a Virgin-style makeover. Lounges opened at Newcastle on Tuesday and at Wakefield Westgate this morning. Lounges will open at Darlington tomorrow, and Leeds, Edinburgh, London King’s Cross and Berwick in the following weeks.

Dan Fell, CEO of Doncaster Chamber, commented: “The continuing buzz around investment in Doncaster is further endorsed today by Virgin Trains choosing to refurbish the first class lounge at the station. This investment will further enhance options for travel to and from Doncaster as either a business or leisure commuter.”

Maxine Joicey, General Manager for Virgin Trains, said: “This fantastic new look lounge at Doncaster Station is the latest investment that will help us lift the experience for our First Class customers.

“We know that being able to relax ahead of a journey or prepare for that key business meeting is one of the things that our customers really value. We’re confident that providing some Virgin style to these lounges will help us to meet this increasing demand for First Class travel.”