https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/tags/tag/west coast main line/ West Coast Main Line News en Breaking Travel News Copyright 2026 2026-04-24T16:27:50+00:00 https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/severe-disruption-on-the-uks-west-coast-mainline/ https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/severe-disruption-on-the-uks-west-coast-mainline/ Due to the extreme weather conditions there is severe disruption on the West Coast Main Line. Trains are currently running from Euston station to Birmingham and Wolverhampton but with delays, cancellations and alterations. Sun, 16 Feb 2014 06:00:35 +0000 https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/west-coast-main-line-reopens-after-nine-day-project/ https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/west-coast-main-line-reopens-after-nine-day-project/ Major improvements to the West Coast main line between Warrington and Preston were successfully completed on Monday morning after nine consecutive days of engineering. Four junctions - Golborne, Bamfurlong, Wigan Springs Branch and Balshaw Lane - were replaced and three miles of track re-laid to help increase line speeds and make journeys more reliable. Fri, 26 Jul 2013 06:00:19 +0000 https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/west-coast-franchise-debacle-to-cost-50m/ https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/west-coast-franchise-debacle-to-cost-50m/ The UK Public Accounts Committee has warned the disaster in awarding the InterCity West Coast franchise could cost taxpayers at least £50 million. On the basis of evidence from the department for transport the committee said a “complete lack of common sense” has precipitated the failed process. Tue, 26 Feb 2013 09:26:07 +0000 https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/virgin-trains-handed-23-month-west-coast-extension/ https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/virgin-trains-handed-23-month-west-coast-extension/ Ministers at the department of transport attempted to quell unrest among rail passengers earlier by offering a series of sops to commuters. Announcing Virgin Trains would run the West Coast Mainline for another 23 months, following the botched tender process, department officials confirmed the service would now feature 28,000 more seats a day. Thu, 06 Dec 2012 12:13:45 +0000 https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/west-coast-main-line-laidlaw-inquiry-interim-findings/ https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/west-coast-main-line-laidlaw-inquiry-interim-findings/ The independent inquiry into the Department for Transport’s handling of the franchise competition to run the West Coast Main Line has submitted an initial findings report to Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin. Sat, 03 Nov 2012 06:00:48 +0000 https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/virgin-to-run-west-coast-mainline-into-2013/ https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/virgin-to-run-west-coast-mainline-into-2013/ The department for transport has confirmed it will negotiate with Virgin Rail Group for them to continue providing rail services on the West Coast Main Line for a temporary period. The current franchise is due to expire on December 9th after which it is the government’s intention that Virgin remain as operator for a short period. Mon, 15 Oct 2012 10:14:46 +0000 https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/west-coast-main-line-franchise-competition-cancelled/ https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/west-coast-main-line-franchise-competition-cancelled/ Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin has today announced that the competition to run trains on the West Coast Main Line has been cancelled following the discovery of significant technical flaws in the way the franchise process was conducted. Sat, 06 Oct 2012 21:00:16 +0000 https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/officials-suspended-after-west-coast-deal-sinks/ https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/officials-suspended-after-west-coast-deal-sinks/ Three officials involved in the West Coast franchise competition have been suspended by the permanent secretary following an admission from the government the West Coast rail franchise tender process would have to be rerun. Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin earlier confirmed what had long been expected, with the competition to run trains on the West Coast Main Line cancelled following the discovery of “significant technical flaws” in the way the process was conducted. Wed, 03 Oct 2012 12:10:21 +0000 https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/west-coast-franchise-race-remains-live-following-virgin-challenge/ https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/west-coast-franchise-race-remains-live-following-virgin-challenge/ UK transport minister Theresa Villiers has been forced to postpone the signing of a new franchise agreement on the West Coast Mainline following a legal challenge from Virgin Trains. The department for transport had announced it intended to award the InterCity West Coast franchise to First West Coast, a subsidiary of First Group, on August 15th. Tue, 04 Sep 2012 10:17:29 +0000 https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/train-times-well-below-the-national-average/ https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/train-times-well-below-the-national-average/ Despite a massive £9 billion upgrade to the busy West Coast Main Line, operated by Virgin Trains, the London to Scotland route was still way behind the average of the rest of the UK in their punctuality stakes. Wed, 05 Aug 2009 11:05:20 +0000 https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/big-rise-in-west-coast-main-line-passenger-complaints/ https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/big-rise-in-west-coast-main-line-passenger-complaints/ TRAIN operators on the southern section of the West Coast Main Line — which has been plagued with problems and delays both during and since a £9 billion route modernisation programme — have reported big increases in passenger complaints. Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:30:57 +0000 https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/eight-out-of-10-people-are-happy-with-their-rail-experience-except-for-trav/ https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/eight-out-of-10-people-are-happy-with-their-rail-experience-except-for-trav/ EIGHTY ONE per cent of passengers across the country are satisfied with their rail experience, but punctuality and reliability continue to cause concern on some routes, reveals the latest Passenger Focus National Passenger Survey. Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:42:46 +0000