Virgin Trains recruits Paranormal Consultant to satisfy spooked staff

·  Carlisle is the UK’s most haunted train station

·  Staff sightings of strange apparitions lead to unique hire

In a move never made before, Virgin Trains has employed a Paranormal Consultant to man the halls of the most haunted railway station in the country, Carlisle Station, during the Halloween period.

Barri Ghai, founder of Ghostfinder Paranormal Society, has been drafted in to detect paranormal activity following the frequent reports of strange and unexplainable experiences which have left staff spooked.

Using equipment such as The Gauss Master (which measures Electro-Magnetic Fields) and thermal imaging cameras, the resident ghost hunter will be responsible for manning areas with the highest readings and strangest activities so he can ensure that unsuspecting public don’t stumble into terrifying terrain.

Carlisle Station, infamous for its haunted happenings, with rumours of a headless man roaming Platform 8 and a veiled woman lurking in the undercroft, came out on top as the most haunted railway station as selected by the brave Virgin Trains staff who have reported their experiences.

Top 5 Most Haunted UK Stations

1.  Carlisle

2.  Crewe

3.  Preston

4.  Stoke On Trent

5.  Wolverhampton

For those whose interests are piqued by the otherworldly, customers can travel to Carlisle from London Euston in little over 3 hours with Virgin Trains from £16.50 (standard class) and £50 (first class), to explore the unknown in one of their many ghost tours. Tours can be booked directly at: http://www.carlisleundercroft.co.uk/ghost-tours.html

Stuart Davidson, Customer Experience Manager at Liverpool station said:

“I have seen very strange things at Carlisle Station, particularly in the undercroft tunnels under the station itself. The most memorable was seeing two men’s faces and a little boy with a dog appearing in a red mist. I’ve also seen objects thrown from nowhere, been kicked by a seemingly invisible person and heard voices I can’t explain.”

Although the initiative is being trialled at Carlisle Station due to the huge amount of sightings, there are many other locations on the route which have also received ghostly reports from Virgin Trains staff.

Crewe Station is also steeped in history and rumour has it that Queen Victoria had her own secret tunnel beneath the station. There is also the curious tale of the ghostly footprints in the ticket office.

Sheila Breeze, Station Manager at Crewe Station commented:

“I’d advise not going to the north subway in Crewe Station. This is where the lift shaft is, the one rumoured to be used by Queen Victoria. There is definitely something down there. Braver people than me have taken pictures and short videos but they never stay down there very long and always run back up the stairs with a look of panic in their eyes. Not for the faint-hearted.”

There are even reports of paranormal activity taking place on trains

Rob McMillan, based at Wolverhampton Station said:

“On board one of the trains from Wolverhampton there are frequently strange occurrences reported including a male presence, temperature changes and odd sightings. There have even been bizarre happenings when the train is completely empty and stationary. I can’t explain any of it…”

Steve Tennant, Customer Experience Director at Virgin Trains said:

“We do understand that this is a slightly unorthodox way of responding to customer feedback, but we want to ensure that our staff never feel uncomfortable at work – even if it is caused by paranormal activity! Staff feel unnerved by the unusual happenings, so Virgin Trains has employed the Paranormal Consultant to put their minds at ease.”

Earlier this week, brave passengers who wanted to see the ghostly happenings for themselves were given the chance to win a unique Halloween ghost tour through Virgin Trains social media channels, safe in the knowledge that Virgin Trains staff and Barri Ghai were there to protect them.

To see what paranormal activity Barri uncovered in his investigation at Carlisle Station, watch the full video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vtWtFWUoB8&feature=youtu.be .