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Virgin Radio to relaunch on a train

By | Published on Thursday 17 March 2016

Virgin Radio

Virgin Radio will go live later this month via a “world first” and a “feat of technology” – a live broadcast from a moving train! Though it’s a Virgin train, so movement isn’t necessarily assured. But let’s not spoil this exciting spectacle by being all down on Virgin Trains.

Though if this live broadcast plan is in any way, shape or form relying on the train firm’s on-board wi-fi, there probably won’t be much radio either. But let’s not spoil this exciting spectacle by being all down on Virgin Trains.

As previously reported, Virgin Radio is returning to the UK, though not through a rebrand of the station the original Virgin Radio rebranded into (which is Absolutely staying as it is) but in the form of a brand new pop and rock station broadcasting on the brand new national digital radio multiplex. So everything is new. Except the train. Which will still have no space for luggage and a lingering smell of sewage in every carriage. But let’s not spoil this exciting spectacle by being all down on Virgin Trains.

The all new Virgin Radio’s prime time presenters, Edith Bowman and Matt Richardson, will both be on the train – which is being renamed Virgin Radio Star – as it speeds from Manchester to London via such magnificent towns as Crewe. Which is where I’m from. Hence all my Virgin Train experiences. Though it was on the East Coast line where I once paid for a first class ticket only to have no heating and no working power sockets, which didn’t seem like much of a first class journey to me, whatever the guy on their Twitter feed reckoned. But let’s not spoilt this exciting spectacle by being all down on Virgin Trains.

Because if you’re thinking this whole adventure, due to kick off at 11am on 30 Mar, is all about Bowman and Richardson, then think again. You’re forgetting the live acoustic performances from Travis, The Feeling, Mystery Jets, Gavin James, Emmy The Great and Walking On Cars. And the man Sam Branson will be on board too. He’s a “major music fan” see. Shame he’s not a “major train fan”, then he could invest his time into fixing his dad’s useless train company rather than supporting the radio station that’s set to carry his dad’s brand. But let’s not spoilt this exciting spectacle by being all down on Virgin Trains.

Says the man they call ‘Sam’s dad’: “Virgin is steeped in music history and I’m delighted that Virgin Radio is set to hit the UK airwaves once more. While many people thought the rise of digital would be the death of radio, it has instead enhanced the experience. We like to do things differently, that’s why we’re launching the new sound of Virgin Radio with a live broadcast from a Virgin Train. With presenters like Edith and Matt on board and with music from some of Britain’s leading bands, listeners are going to get a great launch experience. We’re excited to be back”.

Meanwhile Virgin Trains marketing man Adrian Varma adds: “Virgin is a brand famous for creativity, ambition, humour and glamour, whether on a train or over the airwaves. At Virgin Trains we pride ourselves on embodying that spirit, so can’t wait to team up with Virgin Radio when it becomes the first national radio station to broadcast from a train travelling at a speedy 125mph! With an exciting line-up of top artists, hosted by some of the best presenters in the business, we expect the Virgin Radio re-launch to be an event to remember”.

Did I mention that time I was given a Virgin Trains 20% off voucher because my train was majorly delayed, but then when I tried to use it the firm’s website wouldn’t accept it, and when I phoned them up four people insisted that that’s because the voucher could only be used at a station, even though the voucher clearly said it could only be used online, and it eventually turned out that you had to click a six point sized text link at the very bottom of the Virgin Trains home page to use it? But let’s not spoil this exciting spectacle by being all down on Virgin Trains. Virgin Radio’s back, “world first”, “feat of technology”, woo!



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