VIRGIN TRAINS last week invited a group of guests to become the first passengers to travel in a tilting Pendolino train on the West Coast Line when it made a special demonstration run from London to Lichfield and back.
Remarkably the train was able to average 100mph between Euston and Litchfield including a short stop at Watford.
At 125 mph the maximum 6% tilt is just about noticeable.
When the full service is introduced next September direct Manchester to London city centre to city centre (Piccadilly to Euston) will be reduced to 126 minutes with two trains per hour.
From New Street Birmingham, with up to four trains per hour the scheduled time will be 82 minutes.
The train offers 2 + 1 seating in first class and 2 + 2 in standard class where the on-board shop offers a good selection of hot and cold food and confectionery etc at competitive prices.
Two thirds of the Pendolino fleet will have been delivered by the end of this year (36 out of 53 trains).
http://www.virgintrains.co.uk