Virgin Trains has launched its half-term ‘Rookies Academy’, giving train fans aged 5-11 the chance to go behind the scenes of the railway.
Keeping the children busy during the school holidays can be hard work, and a blow to the bank balance to boot. This half term, Virgin Trains has just the ticket for parents searching for inspiration; ‘Rookies Academy’ is a brand-new series of free activity days taking place at 13 stations across the West Coast route over the school break.
This October, ditch the duck pond, turn off the tablet and give your little locomotive lovers the chance to see how the railway really works. ‘Rookies Academy’ activity days will offer children aged 5 to 11 a range of exciting experiences*, including the chance to:
- Make a station announcement
- Learn how to dispatch trains from the platform
- Meet a train driver for a tour of the driver’s cab onboard a Virgin Train
Gary Campbell, Station Manager at Virgin Trains says: “We know children love trains, and we see so much enthusiasm for the railway from children travelling through our station. Every day we are asked lots of questions by young train fans who tell us how much they would like to work on the railway when they grow up, so we are excited to be offering our ‘Rookies’ some hands-on, real-life experience at stations along our West Coast route this half term. Make sure you pre-book your ticket to guarantee your place, as we unfortunately aren’t able to let ‘Rookies’ in without one!”
Book your place on our website from 15th October https://www.virgintrains.co.uk/rookies
‘The Rookies Academy’ Activity Days Schedule
Station | Date(s) | Total places available |
Liverpool Lime Street | 23rd October | 12 |
Preston | 23rd October, 25th October | 16 |
Coventry | 24th October, 25th October | 20 |
Carlisle | 24th October, 25th October | 20 |
Lancaster | 24th October | 8 |
Runcorn | 24th October | 12 |
Macclesfield | 29th October, 30th October | 20 |
Stoke | 29th October, 30th October | 20 |
Crewe | 31st October, 1st November | 20 |
Penrith North Lakes | 24th October, 25th October | 20 |
Stafford | 30th October | 12 |
Birmingham International | 31st October, 1st November, 2nd November | 12 |
Stockport | 23rd October | 6 |
PLEASE NOTE PLACES ARE LIMITED. PRE-BOOKED TICKETS ONLY. NO WALK-UPS ON THE DAY.