Virgin Trains says ‘Thank You’ as last train set to depart

Virgin Trains has made a series of donations to local good causes to mark its final day of running the West Coast Main Line.

Charities across the United Kingdom from London to Manchester, Birmingham to Scotland are set to benefit from the £50,000 pot raised from the sale of train nameplates.

The winners of the auction included enthusiasts and Virgin Trains employees who were eager to bid for some much sought after railway memorabilia.

This latest sum brings the total amount raised from nameplate auctions this year to over £130,000, with Teenage Cancer Trust, Rethink Mental Illness and Severn Valley Railway Trust some of the previous beneficiaries.

“We wanted to find some good homes for our nameplates,” explained Joanna Buckley, Community Manager at Virgin Trains. “We’ve been blown away by the response and delighted to be in a position to support some fantastic causes in our local communities.”

“It’s been a wonderful 22 years transforming services on the west coast and we’re proud of everything our people have achieved in that time. But it wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our customers, and this is just our small way of saying thank you.”

Winning bids for the nameplates ranged from £500 to over £4000, with City of Birmingham going for the highest amount. Most of the plates had clocked up over three million miles in service before their retirement, at speeds of up to 125 miles per hour whilst adorned to the Pendolino and Super Voyager trains.

One the recipients is The Whitechapel Centre, a homeless and housing charity for the Liverpool region.

Ruth McCaughley, Fundraising Manager said: “Virgin Trains have supported us in a range of ways over the years, from donations to our centre, to book swaps and taking part in fundraising events,”

“As we enter the winter the need for our services grows and this additional support from Virgin Trains is a wonderful final gesture. We are incredibly grateful for their support and we are going to really miss them.”

Marie-Claire O’Brien, CEO of the New Leaf Initiative, a Birmingham based charity that helps ex-offenders find work added: “Virgin Trains have been so supportive. They’ve willingly given their time to help with training and interview skills, and also offered employment to a number of our people. This final donation speaks volumes. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!”

ENDS