RAIL passengers were promised more seats, faster services and new electric trains on Scotland's busiest cross-border route as part of a controversial 14-year contract awarded to FirstGroup yesterday.
The new franchise agreement runs until 2026 and will end Virgin Trains' 15-year tenure on the West Coast Main Line from December 9, sparking a bitter war of words between the companies.
Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson said the Department for Transport decision was "insane" and risked repeating failures on the East Coast Main Line, which required government intervention after both GNER and National Express walked away from their franchise commitments.
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