BLACKPOOL'S rail services got a boost with the launch of a new £4 million Virgin Voyager train on the 7.35am from North Station to Portsmouth.
Before it left the shadow secretary of state for transport, Theresa May, and Virgin Trains' chief executive Chris Green named the new train Blackpool Voyager.
The name has been chosen to promote the resort and reflect the fact that the train will be "voyaging" around Virgin's cross country network.
Blackpool is the second place in the North West to receive one of the new Voyager trains which are being introduced to replace the ageing fleet of Intercity 125s. Said Chris Green: "I'm delighted to see this train being named Blackpool Voyager. Each year many people travel to the town for business or pleasure or -- as we saw this week -- to attend the Conservative Party Conference.
"We named a train in Portsmouth just a few weeks ago and it is now the turn of Blackpool to receive the recognition it deserves."
From next September Blackpool will have a two-hourly service to Plymouth giving direct links to Crewe, Birmingham, Bristol and Exeter with connections at Preston for other destinations.
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