LAWRENCE Bellamy, associate dean at the University of Chester's Warrington campus, talks Virgin trains in his latest column.

The Virgin Trains bid success for the West Coast mainline is good news for the north west.

While it will be nice to have improved shelters, free Wi-Fi on stations and better train interiors the biggest benefit will be in an increase of over 5,000 seats per day on the route.

Anyone who has had to endure a packed train with standing room only on a hot summer day will know how important this is!

However with the north west a growing centre for business and commerce the greatest benefit will be that commuters can get some work done on the train.

With rising congestion a concern for companies will be the impact on their business operations.

Getting commuters off the roads will benefit everyone and allow business to keep moving.

Bank Quay is an important point here, with great access with Liverpool and Manchester only minutes away, critically connecting the organisations which drive the region.

The bigger picture is of course the North-South run with London and Glasgow.

Warrington is at a crossing point regionally and nationally. With the long-term development of HS2 likely to be uncertain, building capacity with existing services is an important contingency plan too.