Virgin founder Richard Branson and First Group boss Tim O’Toole will go head to head on Monday when they are called before MPs to field questions about the ongoing West Coast saga.
Earlier this week in a written statement, former transport minister Theresa Villiers confirmed that the Government had delayed signing of a new contract as a result of a legal challenge brought by Virgin.
On Monday, September 10 – in separate sessions – the two rail bosses will answer questions from MPs.
Virgin Trains chief executive Tony Collins said: “We welcome the Transport Select Committee’s decision to call Virgin Rail Group and FirstGroup to a hearing on West Coast Main line next week. This follows the Department’s decision to delay the award of the contract.
“Along with the thousands of customers who signed the e-petition, we hope this will be followed by an independent review of the decision to award the contract to First Group.
“Virgin Trains has submitted a strong and deliverable bid with more commitments on new trains, new routes and new on-board services.
“We’ll spend £800m – and have given a detailed account of how this would build on the huge improvements we’ve made over the last 15 years. First have made vague promises about spending £350m. Passengers are rightly asking why their voice and priorities appear to have been ignored.”
