Virgin Trains becomes first UK rail operator to offer full vegan menu

Virgin Trains has said it is the first UK rail operator to offer passengers a full vegan menu.

The travel giant says the new menu will be available on all its routes.

Meals on offer will include a vegan-friendly breakfast pot with mushrooms, hash browns, spinach and baked beans, with a vegan chilli in the evening.

First class menus feature a potato hash breakfast, Mediterranean pasta salad and spicy Bombay potato.

On board shops and kitchens now stock soya as an alternative to cows' milk, while all menus are labelled to help passengers identify vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free products.

A vegan campaign group urged other train firms to take similar action.

Virgin Trains, which operates services on the West Coast Main Line between London and Scotland, said it refreshed menus in response to the growing number of people who have become vegan or want to reduce the amount of meat and dairy products they consume.

The operator's food and beverage proposition manager Julie Harper said: "The clear message we've had from vegan customers is they need consistency so they have peace of mind when they board the train.

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"We've worked really hard to ensure that our menus in First and Standard deliver that consistency throughout the day and include some really delicious, appetising options that we hope will tempt vegans and non-vegans alike."

Louise Davies, head of policy at The Vegan Society, said: "We've been campaigning for decent vegan options on trains over the last few months and it's great to see Virgin respond with a menu that anyone can enjoy.

"Market trends are showing a rapid growth in plant-based eating. We hope that others will follow Virgin's lead and take notice of the power of the vegan pound."