The number, frequency and speed of trains on the national network have all increased.

Over 20,000 trains are now running across the rail network each day after longer, faster trains were introduced this week under a new winter timetable, which was specified by the Department for Transport.

There are now an extra 690 trains running on the network each day.

Following a £9 billion upgrade of the west coast main line that links London with Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow, it now takes two hours and five minutes to travel from Manchester to London on trains that leave every 20 minutes.

However, Tony Collins, Virgin Rail Group's CEO had a word of caution: "During the first few months as the timetable beds in, passengers' expectations may not always be fulfilled."