VIRGIN TRAINS has introduced its advanced Pendolino unit on an experimental basis between London Euston and Manchester Piccadilly in order to train staff under operational conditions and evaluate passenger reaction. As more are delivered through the summer Pendolino will be seen on other services too. For the time being the 0658 Manchester southbound on a Thursday is Pendolino as is the 1620 return. Its scheduled times are the same as the normal Virgin timetable, around 2 hrs 40 minutes, but in time it is hope that it will be reduced to just over 2 hrs. http://www.virgintrains.co.uk