MP welcomes news on the West Coast Main Line as offering a 'Way forward'

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has today welcomed the news that Virgin Rail has been given the green light to run the West Coast main line for at least another nine months after its current franchise ends. Tim has welcomed this news as 'a way forward to try and end the saga'.

The Transport Secretary will announce in the House of Commons later today that the current franchise is due to expire on 9 December, after which it is the Government's intention that Virgin remain as operator for a short period - expected to be between 9 and 13 months - while a competition is run for an interim franchise agreement. This interim agreement, which will be open to any bidders, will then run until the new long term West Coast franchise is ready to commence.

The two-part announcement reflects how legally fraught the issue of granting Virgin Rail an extension has become, following the fiasco at the start of October which saw the Government cancel its decision to award the new franchise to FirstGroup.

Tim said: "I have always said that passengers should come first and have the opportunity to have their say. If I get the chance to speak after the Minister's statement later today, I will ask him for an assurance that this will happen."