Date: 05/12/2012

The government has announced Virgin Trains will run the West Coast Mainline for a further 23 months - hours before a report into the collapse of the line's franchise deal is published. An inquiry has examined why the £5bn deal collapsed in October. [From Mark Bartlett]

External links

Report condemns rail bid 'flaws'

BBC News

A report into the collapse of the £5bn West Coast Mainline franchise deal blames a "damning failure" by the Department for Transport - hours after it was announced Virgin Trains will run the service for another 23 months.

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Tags: x Virgin Trains