West Coast rail contract no done deal, says Transport Minister - Scottish Daily Record

THE new contract for the West Coast main line rail franchise hasn't been signed yet, it emerged yesterday.

Transport minister Theresa Villiers confirmed "the competition remains live" – after a last-minute legal challenge by Virgin boss Richard Branson.

His company, who have run the Glasgow to London line since 1997, controversially lost the right to operate the franchise from next year as the contract was awarded to rival bidders FirstGroup.

In a statement to the Commons, Villiers said: "As a result of a legal challenge, which the Government intend to defend robustly, we have not yet signed the contract with First West Coast, and consequently the competition remains live."