Labour MP Hodge demands changes amid West Coast fiasco
A senior MP has demanded sweeping changes to the civil service amid the fiasco surrounding the West Coast Main Line.
North West rail franchise U-turn by Government
Virgin Trains to keep West Coast Mainline as Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin dumps FirstGroup in franchise U-turn.
Branson wants to run line "for free"
Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson says he would run the West Coast Main Line for free
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West coast mainline decision
An announcement is due later on which company will run the West Coast mainline. The decision to award the franchise to FirstGroup was scrapped over "technical flaws" in the bidding process. The transport secretary will appear before MP's to explain the costly u-turn.
Labour MP Hodge demands changes amid West Coast fiasco
A senior MP has demanded sweeping changes to the civil service amid the fiasco surrounding the West Coast Main Line.
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North West Main Line franchise U-turn
There has been an extraordinary twist in the battle for control of the most important rail link in the North West.
The franchise for the West Coast Main Line was awarded to First Group in August - but the government has now cancelled it.
It says there were "significant flaws" in the bidding process because of mistakes by Department of Transport staff.
Three have now been suspended and taxpayers are now facing a bill of at least £40 million.
Branson's legal challenge 'revealed flaws' in franchise system
Speaking to ITV News, the Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin MP admits if it had not been for Richard Branson's legal challenge the flaws in Britain's rail franchise system may never have come to light.
He said: "If the legal challenge had not been mounted we might not have found these out, that's true."
Three suspended after North West rail franchise U-turn
Three people at the Department of Transport have been suspended after the Government scrapped its decision to award the West Coast Main Line rail franchise to FirstGroup.
The Transport Secretary said there were "significant technical flaws" in the bidding process because of mistakes by Department for Transport staff.
The estimated cost of reimbursing four companies for the cost of their bids will be £40m. FirstGroup, which beat Virgin Trains to win the franchise, says it's ''disappointed.''
North West rail franchise U-turn by Government
Virgin Trains to keep West Coast Mainline as Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin dumps FirstGroup in franchise U-turn.
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Rail deal cancelled
The government has scrapped plans to award the West Coast Main Line rail franchise to FirstGroup because of technical flaws. It means the bidding process for the major rail route in the North-West wil be re-opened.
Labour calls for more time on West Coast mainline deal
Branson wants to run line "for free"
Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson says he would run the West Coast Main Line for free
Read the full storyCelebrities back Virgin West Coast U-turn
Celebrities back a campaign to force a U-turn on the Government's decision to strip Virgin Trains of its West Coast main line franchise.
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