High-tech on-board passenger service moves from unaffordable to indispensable

In 1998, when Virgin Trains was specifying the interiors of its Pendolino trains for the London-Glasgow West Coast inter-city franchise, Sir Richard Branson’s intention was that they should include an on-board, airline-style passenger entertainment system.

When the costs were investigated, it was clear that there was no business case. Paul Soor, who was an executive at Angel Trains – the rolling stock leasing company which owns the Pendolinos – recalls that the costs were...

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