A KEY Scotland-to-London train line must not become a “Cinderella” service thanks to HS2, MPs said yesterday.
The competition for the next contract for the West Coast Main Line, which is currently run by Virgin, has been hit by delays.
Politicians have warned they do not want to see a repeat of the 2012 “shambles”, when the service was awarded to, then removed from, Aberdeen-based FirstGroup following a legal challenge from Virgin, which saw the contest re-run.
Mark Pawsey, Tory MP for Rugby and Bulkington, yesterday warned of the danger of the service being allowed to degrade as transport bosses focus their efforts on HS2.
That project will create a faster service from London to Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds – carving a similar route to the West Coast Main Line, which continues to Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Speaking in a Westminster Hall debate, Pawsey said: “I don’t think it’s possible to consider the future of the West Coast Main Line without some reference to HS2. It is vital, in my view, that even when investment starts to be made in HS2 that money continues to be spent on the West Coast Main Line.”
SNP Transport spokesman Drew Hendry said the West Coast Main Line franchise will have a major impact on Scotland and that the “handling of the franchise must be done right”.
He said: “After the shambles of the 2012 process, the UK Government must ensure that the next franchise process has the public’s confidence, and that it will be able to deliver value for money for passengers.
“The cancelled franchise process for the West Coast Main Line brought the whole franchise bidding process into disrepute.”
A public consultation on the future of the line is currently under way and the bidding process will be launched later this year.
Transport Minister Claire Perry said the Department for Transport has learned from the 2012 problems, telling MPs: “There were really serious questions to be answered.”
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