Officials accused over rail contract

UK Government officials may have “manipulated” a contest to run West Coast mainline trains to ensure the lucrative contract went to Aberdeen-based First Group.

The claim is made in a damning report delivered today by a powerful group of MPs after an inquiry into the handling of the tender process for the key London to Scotland rail service.

In August last year, the Department for Transport (Dft) announced that First Group, rather than Sir Richard Branson’s rail company Virgin Trains, had won the battle to run a new 13-year west coast franchise. First’s successful bid of £5.5billion was higher than those of its rivals, including the £4.8billion offered by Virgin.

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