Council to step into rail row?

WARRINGTON Borough Council is to be asked to get involved in the controversy over the deal to hand the West Coast Main Line franchise to train operators First Group.
A motion is to be put to the council at its meeting on Monday by Liberal Democrat councillor Brian Axcell (pictured),seconded by fellow Lib Dem Cllr Keith Gleave.
They will be asking the council to note the decision by the Department of Transport to award the franchise to First Group in preference to existing operator Virgin Trains and to express concern that the company will be unable to fulfil the promises in its tender document.
The two councillors will also ask the council to write to Virgin boss Richard Branson thanking them for their investment in the line over the last 15 years, their improvements in customer service and for providing benefits to the local economy by providing a non-stop service to London and journey times of an hour and three quarters.
In fact, the deal has been delayed following a legal challenge by Virgin.
Government ministers were expected to sign the deal with First Group several days ago, but because of the legal challenge the contract has not been signed and ministers say “the competition remains live”.
Virgin has run the West Coast Main Line since 1997.
Nationally, Labour has already urged the Government to defer signing the contract so that MPs could examine it and approaching 200,000 people have signed an online petition calling for the decision to be reconsidered.
The government, however, believes the First Group’s bid will provide significant improvements for passengers and provide a good return for the taxpayer.