Virgin Trains has recorded a boost to passenger numbers in the second quarter of the year. 

Overall passenger journeys for the 12 weeks ended June 22nd were up 4.3 per cent, which means the carrier managed to outperform rival long-distance train operators by three percentage points.

Part of the reason for the boost in sales has been the Fly Virgin Trains advertising campaign, as the key messages of speed and efficiency were recognised by 61 per cent of respondents to a survey. 

Graham Leech, the company's executive director of commercial, said: "The increases we are now seeing in business travel suggest that the UK economy is on the move again."

Virgin customers can also soon look forward to major improvements on the West Coast Main Line, as nearly £40 million is being invested by Network Rail on Britain's busiest mixed-use railway track.

The company currently estimates 70 per cent of its delays are attributable to Network Rail.