Train’s maiden run to the Highlands

One of Virgin’s new Azuma trains has travelled to the Highlands for the first time on a test run. The journey took the train north of Edinburgh to Inverness on Friday before travelling back to its depot in Doncaster on Saturday.

Virgin said the train, which takes its name from the Japanese word for “east”, will be introduced on the East Coast main line from next year.

The test run is part of a programme to prepare Scotland for the arrival of the 65-strong Azuma fleet.