Virgin Trains Delivering World-Class Train Service with Novell NetWare 6

Novell, Inc., a leader in eBusiness solutions and Net services software, and Virgin Trains* have announced the implementation of the latest version of Novell's network operating system as the Net services platform to enhance Virgin Trains' ability to deliver world-class train services by 2003. Virgin Trains, the United Kingdom's rail operator for CrossCountry Trains and West Coast Trains, is leading the UK in upgrading to Novell® NetWare® 6, with Cap Gemini Ernst& Young* providing the systems integration expertise to manage the rollout across the company's IBM eServer xSeries* servers.

Virgin Trains is driving an ambitious program to deliver a revolution in rail travel by 2003 and is working with partners Novell, Cap Gemini Ernst& Young and IBM to provide world-class IT services to support its business. Jeremy Acklam, Virgin Trains' head of IT, has key responsibilities for delivering 24x7 IT services for Virgin Trains and the nationwide implementation of major IT projects for the UK rail network.

"NetWare 6 allows Virgin Trains to keep up with growth by being very flexible," Acklam explained. "We can add new sites and new systems to the network and adapt rapidly to change."

When Virgin Trains took over the two rail franchises, it faced the challenge of substantially improving systems that had suffered through lack of investment. Acklam added, "We needed to select the appropriate partners to build a robust IT infrastructure to meet our objectives and Cap Gemini Ernst& Young provided the right skills. Reliability is essential to Virgin Trains and NetWare 6 is essential in delivering reliable IT services to the business to keep our train services on schedule and minutes lost to a minimum. The flexibility and reliability of Novell's one Net vision allows us to deliver the solutions necessary for Virgin Trains to provide world-class train services to our customers in 2003."

Mark Smith, consultant for Cap Gemini Ernst& Young, is part of a team that manages the outsourced IT services delivery for Virgin Trains. Explaining the team's role, Smith said, "Virgin Trains' IT services have operated on Novell software and IBM hardware for many years and the proven reliability of this combination gave us the confidence to develop the network and bring it to world-class standards. We're looking forward to delivering Novell's one Net solutions based on the latest technologies such as Novell iFolder™ and Novell Storage Services on the NetWare 6 platform to accelerate Virgin Trains' eBusiness transformation."

Virgin Trains employs 3,800 staff at more than 80 locations across the UK. The Virgin Trains network carries 30 million passengers each year and will expand to serve up to 60 million passengers a year after 2003. CrossCountry Trains is the only national rail network in the UK, and West Coast Trains serves passengers between London and Glasgow and the northwest of England.

Jim Tanner, director of NetWare product management for Novell, said, "One of the most innovative companies in the rail industry, Virgin Trains is using NetWare 6 to tie together the disparate operating systems that make up its network. Novell and NetWare 6 provide the core infrastructure that guarantees always available, reliable and secure access to all data, applications and services for all users, regardless of location."

About Novell
Novell, Inc. (NASDAQ: NOVL), is a leader in eBusiness solutions and Net services software designed to secure and power the networked world. Novell and its subsidiary, Cambridge Technology Partners, help organizations solve complex business challenges, simplify their systems and processes, and capture new opportunities with one Net solutions. Novell provides worldwide channel, consulting, education and developer programs to support its offerings.

For information on Novell's complete range of products and services, contact Novell's Customer Response Center at (888) 321-4CRC (4272), or visit Novell's Web site at http://www.novell.com. Information on eBusiness and e-integration solutions from Cambridge Technology Partners can be accessed at http://www.ctp.com. Press may access Novell announcements and company information on the World Wide Web at http://www.novell.com/pressroom.

Novell and NetWare are registered trademarks and Novell iFolder is a trademark of Novell, Inc. in the United States and other countries. *All third-party trademarks are the property of their respective owners.