Athletes given helping hand by Virgin Trains: Cyclist Jessica Varnish gets a Virgin Pendolino train named after her

Midlands-based cyclist Jessica Varnish is the latest athlete to get a Virgin Trains Pendolino named after her. The naming took place at Wolverhampton station on 29 June as Virgin Trains continues to highlight its sponsorship of the travel for a number of sportsmen and women who hope to represent their country in upcoming major sporting events. Pendolino 390027 now carries Jessica’s name under the windscreen on both ends of the train. Following the naming, Jessica took a trip to Birmingham in the cab of ‘her’ train.

The Virgin Trains sponsorship initiative is supported by Alstom, which built and maintain Virgin’s Pendolino train fleet including from a depot at Oxley, near Wolverhampton.

The initiative, ‘Supporting British athletes’, enables a number of sportsmen and women to attend training camps; key competitions and championships up and down the country. With the numerous events happening in the run up to the 2012 Games and Glasgow 2014, the ability to train and take part in competitive events is an important part of these athlete’s careers.

Jessica Varnish, at 19 years of age, is an upcoming star of the British Track Cycling Team. She is ambitious, focused and talented, and has her eyes on World titles and gold medals at the Olympic Games in London 2012.

Jessica is a level headed individual and popular in the Midlands region, winning the Young Sports Personality award for the past two years. She has already taken part in fashion and photo shoots to promote cycling and, with the recent changes in Olympic cycling rules meaning more opportunity for medals in the2012 Games, is perfectly positioned as a brand ambassador and the fresh face of women’s cycling in Britain.

Jessica said: “Having a train named after me is incredible and something I never thought would happen. My friends think it’s awesome! I’m really happy and thankful for the huge support Virgin Trains are giving me”
Paul Holland, General Manager, West Midlands at Virgin Trains, said: “We think it’s fantastic that Jessica has agreed to have one of our trains named after her. We think it is really important to help support the athletes of the future and, with the 2012 Games held on home turf this year, it has even greater resonance.”

Richard Woodroofe, Alstom Transport UK’s Mainline Operations Director said: “Alstom is delighted to support this initiative with Virgin Trains. We identify with the determination and commitment needed by the athletes to deliver top performance and wish Jessica well for the exciting challenges ahead.”

For further information please contact Anna Butterworth on 020 7403 6900 or email anna.butterworth@spider-pr.com.

Notes to Editors

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Virgin Trains is the brand name of Virgin Rail Group (VRG), which is owned 51 percent by Virgin Group and 49 percent by Stagecoach. We have operated the West Coast passenger train franchise since 1997.

The current franchise runs to March 2012 and the Secretary of State for Transport announced on 19 May 2011 that the Department for Transport will seek to agree acceptable terms with VRG for an extension to the current contract to December 2012. We have been short-listed for the new franchise that will start in December 2012.

Virgin Trains has been recognised in numerous industry awards. In 2010 the company has been named Best Rail Operator of the Year at the Travel Globe Awards (voted for by readers of the Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday and Evening Standard), and Best Rail Operator in the Group Leisure Awards (which we also won in 2009). In 2009 we were also voted Best UK Domestic Train Service by Business Traveller magazine for the second year running.

Virgin Trains first achieved Investors In People accreditation in 2007 and this was renewed in 2010; the IIP Gold award was achieved in 2011. In May 2011 Virgin Trains was awarded accreditation against the criteria of the European Foundation for Quality Management's (EFQM) Excellence Model.

Alstom, who built the Virgin Pendolino trains is also responsible for the maintenance of the 52 high-speed tilting trains, at depots in Manchester, Wolverhampton, north London, Liverpool and Glasgow.