Virgin Trains has officially opened its new first class lounge at Liverpool Lime Street station. The £3.4m lounge, which is on platform 7 and can seat up to 50, offers free wi-fi, newspapers and self-service drinks and light snacks.

Virgin Trains station manager Keith Millard said: "Since last December we have had a high quality train service, using state-of-the-art tilting Pendolino trains from Liverpool to London, and now we have a high quality station facility to complement the trains.

"We are confident that the improved facilities at the station will encourage more environmentally-conscious motorists to ditch the car and take the train."

First Class customers using the Liverpool to London route are also able to take advantage of a completely refurbished lounge at Euston station, which opened at the end of April.”

Virgin Trains currently operates 18 trains a day each way on the Liverpool-London route and has first class lounges in London, Birmingham, Coventry, Manchester, Runcorn, Stoke-on-Trent and Wolverhampton.