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# Lichfield MP welcomes extra seats for West Coast Main Line passengers
- URL: https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/lichfield-mp-welcomes-extra-seats-for-west-coast-main-line-passengers/
- Published: 2011-10-30T19:11:44.000Z
- Updated: 2011-10-30T19:13:09.000Z
- Author: Lichfield Live
- Tags: Transport, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-07-22 21:41, News

Lichfield’s MP has welcomed the news that extra carriages and seats will soon be available for passengers travelling on the West Coast Main Line.

The news of the increase – which will come in from April 2012 – comes as the Government agreed to an extension of Virgin Trains’ contract to operate the route.

[![Michael Fabricant](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e3/90/e390c3da-0866-4d2a-8ffe-ca4999d7ce1c/content/images/lichfieldlive-co-uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/michaelfabricant.jpg "Michael Fabricant")](//lichfieldlive.co.uk/2010/10/19/lichfield-mp-says-change-will-secure-future-of-canal-network/michaelfabricant-4/)

Michael Fabricant

Michael Fabricant MP, who has long campaigned for an increase in capacity for Lichfield commuters, said: “This is great news for passengers travelling from Lichfield Trent Valley who will benefit from 28,000 extra seats on the West Coast Main Line.

“With 25 per cent more seats available each day, commuters from Lichfield will really feel the difference. I am well aware of the shortage of seats on some trains down to London and north to Manchester and beyond.

“The West Coast Main Line will benefit from three new 600-seat Pendolino trains, in addition to the new Pendolino which entered service in July this year. Also, 31 existing Pendolinos will be lengthened from 9 to 11 carriages, increasing the number of standard class seats on each train by almost 50 per cent.

“In all, 106 new carriages are being introduced on the route making 28,000 extra seats available each day, an increase of 25 per cent.”

Virgin Trains’ existing contract to run services on the West Coast Main Line would have expired on March 31, 2012\. The extension will see it continue to December 9, 2012.

Rail Minister Theresa Villiers added: “The West Coast Main Line is one of our busiest and most important rail arteries. Keeping the existing operator in place while these new trains and carriages are introduced should help ensure they are introduced smoothly onto the network so passengers reap the benefits as soon as possible.

“When this extension expires in December 2012, the Government will have completed a competition for a new operator to run services on the line under a new longer style of franchise which gives the operator more incentive to invest and more freedom to innovate and deliver for passengers.

“These extra seats are great news for passengers, but in the longer term, even with these improvements, the route is expected to be full by 2024\. This is why we are considering proposals for a high speed rail line between London, the West Midlands, Manchester, Leeds and potentially beyond.”