Rail revamp boosts sales

THERE has been a surge in the number of first-class train passengers travelling between Edinburgh and London after an operator axed Britain’s last restaurant car.

East Coast Trains dumped the service a year ago and said bookings had jumped by 39 per cent, with complimentary food and drink and 19 additional weekday services boosting demand. The company previously reported restaurant services were losing £23 million a year.

Karen Boswell, East Coast’s managing director, said: “The extra services provided an additional 10,800 seats per weekday.”