Birmingham has become the hub of the new regional InterCity rail network.

From Monday, more than 200 trains will pass through Birmingham's New Street station - on average one train every seven minutes - to four core routes across the UK.

These include half-hourly services to towns such as York, Stafford, Reading and Sheffield and hourly services to destinations such as Edinburgh, Newcastle, Bournemouth and Plymouth.

'Regular frequencies'

The network was launched at a special ceremony at Blackpool North station, which is joining the CrossCountry network for the first time.

The CrossCountry services will be operated by new Voyager trains with on-board shops, power points for laptops and mobiles and in-seat audio entertainment.

Whatever happens at Birmingham is going to have a ripple effect throughout the whole network

Rail consultant Stuart Davies

Sir Richard Branson told the BBC's Midlands Today programme: "This is a tremendous day. I don't think there has ever been such a revelation in rail since the Second World War.

"We are doubling the number of frequencies, doubling the number of trains.

"We have got rid of all the dilapidated trains and got a beautiful new fleet."

Sir Richard said that between the CrossCountry and West Coast lines, he was hoping to double the number of rail passengers from 30 million to 60 million.

'Pleasant experience'

"It is a big challenge," he said.

"I think people left the rail network because of unreliable, dirty, dilapidated trains they just didn't trust.

"Once people start travelling on the new CrossCountry network, people will see it is actually a more pleasant experience travelling on a train than it is by car."

But there are concerns that more trains could mean more delays at Birmingham's New Street station, which is already one of the country's worst rail bottlenecks.

Rail consultant Stuart Davies said: "Whatever happens at Birmingham is going to have a ripple effect throughout the whole network ranging from Aberdeen to Penzance.

"Whatever delay happens here will accumulate in the extended geography of that network."