Athletes given helping hand by Virgin Trains: Long Jumper Abigail Irozuru gets Virgin Pendolino train named after her

Virgin Trains has commemorated another prize winning athlete with the naming of Pendolino train 390007 after Long Jumper Abigail Irozuru. Virgin Trains has continued 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. The naming took place today (28 September) at Wolverhampton station.

The Virgin Trains sponsorship initiative is supported by Alstom, which built and maintains Virgin’s Pendolino train fleet.

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 sporting events in 2012 in London and 2014 in Glasgow the ability to train and take part in competitive events is an important part of these athlete’s careers. 

Abigail has competed as a junior and now an adult in competitions across the nation. She is a seasoned international competitor too and has racked up several overseas appearances for the UK. 

Abigail said; “Training and competing across the nation is amazingly great fun but the travel can take it out of you. Having the support of Virgin Trains means that I have been able to travel comfortably and stress-free, arriving at each event ready to win. Having a train named after me is so exciting and I would absolutely love to get to travel on my namesake on my way to big competitions; reminding me of my talent... that would be the ultimate confidence-booster!”

Paul Holland, General Manager Wolverhampton at Virgin Trains, said: “We think it’s fantastic that Abigail has agreed to have one of our trains named after her. At Wolverhampton we are very proud to be helping British athletes on their journey to the podium.”

Richard Woodroofe, Alstom Transport UK’s Mainline Operations Director said: “We are proud to accompany Virgin Trains in this great initiative to support British sporting talent. Providing the trains for service every day, Alstom teams can identify with the drive and commitment athletes like Abigail need to deliver top performance and wish her well for the challenges ahead."

The train naming comes after tickets for travel to the London during the 2012 sporting events went on sale. Extra late night, and some early morning trains, will also be operating between the London and the West Midlands at the time of the games. To book your tickets, visit: www.nationalrailgamestravel.co.uk. 

For further information or to book Virgin Trains log on to www.virgintrains.com, telephone 0871 977 4222 or visit any Virgin Trains’ station.

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For further information please contact Jessica Dixon on 020 7403 6900 or email Jessica.dixon@spider-pr.com.

Photos:
0001: Long jumper Abigail Irozuru jumps for joy as her name is unveiled on the front of a Virgin Trains Pendolino train.

0002: Abigail Irozuru with Virgin Trains’ Train Manager Jim Murray and Alstom’s Health and Safety Manager Sean Messia from Oxley Depot.

0003: Abigail and members of the Virgin Trains and Alstom Teams celebrate the naming of Pendolino train 390007, now named Abigail Irozuru

Notes to Editors

Other athletes who have had a Virgin Trains Pendolino names after them are:
Squash player Alison Waters (train 390052)
Cyclist Jessica Varnish (train 390027)
Gymnast Beth Tweddle (train 390022)

Visit our Media Room website - www.virgintrains.co.uk/about/media-room/ - for an Image Library of pictures of Virgin Trains and the company’s operations, or to subscribe to receive alerts to new press releases.

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.