Rail decision stalled after errors revealed (From Warrington Guardian)
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Rail decision stalled after errors revealed
5:20pm Friday 5th October 2012 in News
A Virgin train on the West Coast Main Line
THE Government has halted plans to hand over the West Coast Main Line and Warrington Bank Quay Station to FirstGroup after contract flaws were discovered.
Transport minister Patrick McLoughlin said there were significant technical flaws in the bidding process because of mistakes by Department for Transport staff.
FirstGroup was set to take over running the line, which links Warrington to London and Glasgow, on December 9 from Virgin Trains.
Virgin will continue to run the route until the issue is resolved.
Four companies who had bid for the lucrative rail franchise will be reimbursed £40 million for their initial bids as the process starts again.
