SIR Richard Branson has been invited to put his case for retaining Virgin Trains' West Coast Main Line franchise to MPs.
At a hearing next Monday, the House of Commons Transport Committee will also take evidence from Tim O'Toole, chief executive of transport firm FirstGroup.
Sir Richard has launched a legal challenge to the decision to award a new West Coast franchise to FirstGroup, thus ending Virgin's 15-year running of the London to Scotland line.
Sir Richard issued a statement describing the bidding process as insane and flawed. Mr O'Toole has countered by saying that FirstGroup's plans for the line, with improved services, are deliverable.
Earlier this week, the Government announced that due to Virgin's legal challenge the West Coast contract with FirstGroup had not yet been signed.
Before the legal challenge, House of Commons Transport Committee chairman Louise Ellman MP had called for a delay to the signing of the contract so her committee could look into the franchise award which, she said had raised a number of concerns.
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