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| Virgin train breaks speed record | Virgin train breaks speed record |
| (3 days later) | |
| A new train speed record has been set on the Glasgow to London line. | A new train speed record has been set on the Glasgow to London line. |
| Virgin Trains made the 401 mile journey in three hours and 55 minutes - knocking 19 minutes off the record set 25 years ago. | Virgin Trains made the 401 mile journey in three hours and 55 minutes - knocking 19 minutes off the record set 25 years ago. |
| It is the first sub-four hour journey from Glasgow to London and the operator said it showed what had been achieved by Pendolino trains and a line upgrade. | It is the first sub-four hour journey from Glasgow to London and the operator said it showed what had been achieved by Pendolino trains and a line upgrade. |
| The £30,000 ticket money will go to a charity providing motorbikes for the delivery of healthcare in Africa. | The £30,000 ticket money will go to a charity providing motorbikes for the delivery of healthcare in Africa. |
| The train left Glasgow Central station at 1237 BST prompt, carrying 400 passengers. | The train left Glasgow Central station at 1237 BST prompt, carrying 400 passengers. |
| It arrived at Euston station in London at 1632 BST. | It arrived at Euston station in London at 1632 BST. |
| Sixty years ago it took me nine hours 25 minutes Passenger Neil Ker | Sixty years ago it took me nine hours 25 minutes Passenger Neil Ker |
| Speaking before he boarded the train, Virgin West Coast Trains Managing Director Charles Belcher said: "It's going to be a nail-biting event from beginning to end." | Speaking before he boarded the train, Virgin West Coast Trains Managing Director Charles Belcher said: "It's going to be a nail-biting event from beginning to end." |
| "We want to run this train at under four hours from here to London and demonstrate what can be done and then turn that into a reality on a regular basis." | "We want to run this train at under four hours from here to London and demonstrate what can be done and then turn that into a reality on a regular basis." |
| Train driver Russell Southworth, 40, from Preston, said the journey was a dream come true. | Train driver Russell Southworth, 40, from Preston, said the journey was a dream come true. |
| "I'm very proud," he said. "Ever since I was a young child, it's been an ambition of mine to do something like this." | "I'm very proud," he said. "Ever since I was a young child, it's been an ambition of mine to do something like this." |
| Heaven's Angels | Heaven's Angels |
| Many passengers travelled from around the country to be part of the record attempt. | Many passengers travelled from around the country to be part of the record attempt. |
| Rail enthusiast Neil Ker, from Ludlow, Shropshire, was making the trip to celebrate his 80th birthday. | Rail enthusiast Neil Ker, from Ludlow, Shropshire, was making the trip to celebrate his 80th birthday. |
| He said: "For me, it's about the excitement of making this journey in four hours. | He said: "For me, it's about the excitement of making this journey in four hours. |
| The Virgin train left Glasgow Central at 1237 BST prompt | The Virgin train left Glasgow Central at 1237 BST prompt |
| "Sixty years ago it took me nine hours 25 minutes." | "Sixty years ago it took me nine hours 25 minutes." |
| Before setting off, the train was officially named Heaven's Angels by Nick Pigott of Railway Magazine. | Before setting off, the train was officially named Heaven's Angels by Nick Pigott of Railway Magazine. |
| Heaven's Angels is the name of the Virgin-supported charity which is receiving more than £30,000 as a result of the landmark journey. | Heaven's Angels is the name of the Virgin-supported charity which is receiving more than £30,000 as a result of the landmark journey. |
| The previous record was set by British Rail's ill-fated tilting Advanced Passenger Train in the early 1980s. | The previous record was set by British Rail's ill-fated tilting Advanced Passenger Train in the early 1980s. |
| In December 1984 the APT set a new record for the opposite London to Glasgow run of 3hrs 52mins. | |
| Billions of pounds have been spent on upgrading the West Coast Main Line. | Billions of pounds have been spent on upgrading the West Coast Main Line. |
| The record attempt coincides with Virgin's announcement that its West Coast punctuality has improved from 80% of trains running on time in June 2005 to 88% in June 2006. | The record attempt coincides with Virgin's announcement that its West Coast punctuality has improved from 80% of trains running on time in June 2005 to 88% in June 2006. |