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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.