West Coast Mainline deal on hold
Legal action by Virgin Rail has stopped the Government signing a contract awarding the West Coast Mainline franchise, which runs through Cumbria and Dumfries and Galloway, to a rival bidder.
MPs were told by the Rail Minister, the Government would "robustly" defend the case following the decision to award the contract to FirstGroup.
Theresa Villiers told MPs in a written statement "As a result of a legal challenge, which the Government intends to defend robustly, we have not yet signed the contract with First West Coast, and consequently the competition remains live"