First Trenitalia promises more trains and seats on West Coast Main Line as it takes over from Virgin Trains
FIRST Trenitalia promises more frequent services and new trains as it takes over the West Coast Main Line from Virgin Trains.
The switch will take place on December 8, the Department for Transport (DfT) has confirmed today.
Until then, passengers should still book and travel as normal, according to Virgin Trains, which has run trains on the West Coast route since 1997.
First Trenitalia says the move will provide passengers with new trains, more seats, simplified fares and more frequent services.
From December 2022, it's promised 263 extra train services every week, while destinations including Llandudno and Gobowen will now be served by direct trains to and from London.
The company also plans to run two trains an hour between London and Liverpool, subject to approval.
New environmentally-friendly trains will also be brought in to entirely replace the diesel-only fleet, which the government says will reduce CO2 emissions by 61 per cent.
Free wifi will be added to services and improved delay repay compensation will also be introduced.
Meanwhile, ten new cycle storage facilities will be added to stations, as will 900 new car parking spaces and 100 new electric vehicle charging points.
First Trenitalia says it will also invest £117million to refurbish the current Pendolino fleet, providing more comfortable seats and additional luggage space.
The rail company has also been awarded the West Coast Partnership (WCP) contract, which includes responsibility for running the first high speed 2 (HS2) trains from 2026.
But the DfT says the government will "shortly launch a review" into the new high-speed railway, which was widely expected after Boris Johnson became Prime Minister.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: "This award is positive news for passengers, with more services, more direct connections and ambitious plans for a cleaner, greener railway, and also represents a decisive shift towards a new model for rail."
HOW TO SAVE ON YOUR RAIL FARE
HERE'S how you can beat the rip-off rail fares:
Buy a season ticket - If you're making the same journey frequently, for example, your daily comute to work, then you may find that it works out cheaper for you to buy a season ticket. But remember, you'll need to fork out the initial upfront costs before you benefit from the savings.
Book in advance - Network Rail releases its new timetable 12 weeks before it starts, so train companies usually make tickets available at this time. Some operators release them even earlier but the key is to book early. Sign up to Trainline’s ticket alert service to find out when cheap advance fares go on sale for a particular journey you need.
Split your tickets - If you are taking a long train journey, you could save hundreds of pounds by splitting your tickets. A one-way advance ticket from Leeds to Oxford tomorrow costs £99.40. But split your ticket by travelling from Leeds to Birmingham New Street (£60.10) then from Birmingham New Street to Oxford (£18.50) and you pay £78.60. You often won’t even need to change trains and National Rail lets you split your ticket as long as the train calls at the stations you buy the tickets for.
Get a railcard - These can slash a third off the price of some tickets. They cost between £20 and £30 a year. For example, the 16-25 Railcard gives a third off ticket rates for full-time students of any age.
Hunt for cheap tickets - Don’t pay over the odds for tickets — and remember to compare prices before you buy. First, check the , which is a great way to get an overview of routes and travel times. Then check and to see if cheap fares are available. They will usually charge you to make a booking — between 25p and £1.50 — so factor that in.
A spokesman for Virgin Trains, said: "We'll now work with First Trenitalia to ensure a seamless handover for customers, who should still book and travel as normal."
But Mick Cash, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union, believes the move is a "gamble".
He said: "The announcement this morning that First Trenitalia is being shunted on to the West Coast Main Line to replace Virgin/Stagecoach in the midst of the rail staff pension row is just another political fix by a government whose privatised franchise model is collapsing around their ears.
"Instead of following the popular public sector route, the Tories are taking yet another gamble on the crucial West Coast lines with one of the dwindling number of private operator consortia left in the game, in a move that RMT believes is doomed to failure and sure to result in yet more rail chaos.
"RMT will take whatever action is required to protect out members' pay, jobs, working conditions and pensions on these vital inter-city routes."
More on money
It was revealed last year that the price of train tickets has gone up by 32 per cent in nine years but weekly earnings have only grown by 16 per cent.
Rail fare increases for 2020 are widely expected to be announced today in line with the latest inflation figures.
In the meantime, here's how to get the cheapest tickets on UK rail journeys by splitting your tickets and finding hidden fares.
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