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Warning over New Year rail misery Virgin in rail closure complaint
(about 4 hours later)
Rail passengers face a frustrating start to 2008 after Virgin Trains warned of disruption to its West Coast Main Line services on New Year's Eve. The rail regulator is investigating a complaint from Virgin Trains about service disruption on New Year's Eve.
Up to 60,000 travellers have been told to add at least an hour to journey times after Network Rail announced a further day of engineering work. Virgin has accused Network Rail of breaking its licence agreement by closing part of the West Coast mainline near Rugby at short notice.
The latest disruption follows an intensive programme of upgrade work over the festive season. The line was due to be closed on 27 December for three days but the extra day could affect 60,000 passengers.
The line will shut for an extra day at Rugby, Warwickshire, until 1 January. Network Rail has apologised but insists key work must be done over the festive period when passenger numbers are down.
It will affect mainly Virgin Trains to and from the West Midlands, north Wales, north-west England and Scotland. The Office of Rail Regulation said it is investigating, but ruled the work must go ahead.
Some 6,000 passengers have made advance reservations, with another 55,000 expected to travel on December 31. The latest disruption will affect mainly Virgin Trains to and from the West Midlands, north Wales, north-west England and Scotland.
A coach service will replace trains between Northampton and Birmingham International.
Network Rail is extremely sorry and apologises to passengers for the inconvenience Network Rail spokesman Some London Midland and First ScotRail Sleeper services that would have passed through Rugby will also be affected.
Up to 60,000 travellers are expected to use the line on New Year's Eve and Virgin has warned them in a series of newspaper adverts to add at least an hour to journey times.
A message on its website guarantees that every passenger will get to their destinations in time to celebrate the New Year.
Chris Gibb, managing director of Virgin Trains, said: "I am extremely disappointed that Network Rail have informed us of this new disruption at such short notice. Network Rail have insisted this work goes ahead on this crucial travel day."Chris Gibb, managing director of Virgin Trains, said: "I am extremely disappointed that Network Rail have informed us of this new disruption at such short notice. Network Rail have insisted this work goes ahead on this crucial travel day."
Virgin has complained to the rail regulator, but it ruled that the work must go ahead. The engineering work is part of a major overhaul of the West Coast Main Line which began in the mid-90s.
Passengers will now have to disembark at either Northampton or Birmingham International and use a replacement coach service to connect with other trains. A Network Rail spokesman said: "Work will be ongoing for most of the next year, but the Christmas period is the last major opportunity we have to do key work while passenger numbers are down during the relatively long holiday period."
The line was already scheduled to be closed at Rugby from December 27-30. He added: "It was only realised at the beginning of December that work was falling behind. Rail companies are usually given 12 weeks notice of engineering work. Virgin were told only at the beginning of the month, so that is very late.
"Network Rail is extremely sorry and apologises to passengers for the inconvenience."