Virgin Trains staged a promotional presentation in Manchester.

About 70 "opinion formers" from throughout the North-west attended the event at the Palace Hotel.

The Virgin Rail Group was awarded the CrossCountry franchise in November, 1996 and started operations on January 5 this year.

It won the franchise for the vital West Coast line in February and launched the new service on March 9.

Both are for 15 years.

The Virgin Rail Group - part of entrepreneur Richard Branson's empire - has integrated the management and operation of the two companies in Virgin Trains.

Mr Ivor Warburton, Director of Business Development and Industry Affairs, outlined company plans which include a £500 million investment in 40 high-speed tilting trains for services on the West Coast Main Line from 2001.

The current journey time from London to Manchester of two hours, 30 minutes will be reduced to two hours.

Developments on CrossCountry journeys include an experimental flat fare for students to encourage local travel in the evenings.

Virgin is also keen to evaluate the opportunities should the Manchester-Preston-Blackpool line (which passes through Bolton) ever be electrified.

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