Looking absolutely immaculate, 220014 & 220010 head south from Banbury, and pass Overthorpe on 22 December 2001 with the 1O71 07:28 Blackpool North to Portsmouth Virgin CrossCountry service. Both units had only just been accepted into traffic, and judging by their spotless condition, this may very well be their first train. The Portsmouth and Brighton trains were the first Virgin services to go over to DMU operation. At this time these units were hailed as a massive improvement over the loco hauled trains that they replaced. Unfortunately these noisy, claustrophobic and badly designed trains have proved exceedingly unpopular with the travelling public, and not just with the enthusiast fraternity!