A RAIL operator has hailed a “historic shift” in travel patterns as more Scotland-London passengers choose train over plane than at any time in more than 20 years.

New figures by Virgin Trains reveal an 18% year-on-year growth in passengers travelling between Glasgow/Edinburgh and London in June.

The company says this gave it a 33% share of the air/rail market on the UK’s busiest domestic air routes which surpassed a previous record set in 2014.

The rail operator also said growth on the west coast route between Glasgow and London over the last decade has saved enough CO2 to take 145,000 cars off the road for a year.

David Horne, Virgin Trains managing director on the east coast route, said: “When we took over the east coast route, we set out ambitious plans to gain a 50% market share between Edinburgh and London by 2023.

“These figures show an encouraging start to that journey and confirm an historic shift in travel patterns towards train.

“Our customers have responded positively to the improvements in customer service and investment in new train interiors and additional services.”

The shift in travel patterns coincides with a new report which explores the environmental benefits of train over plane travel.

In June, 180,000 passengers travelled on Virgin Trains’ services between Edinburgh and London and the east coast and Glasgow and London on the west coast, up from 152,000 a year earlier.