A DEAL to allow Virgin Rail to temporarily carry on running trains on the West Coast Main Line is expected to be announced by the Government today.
Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin may also publish the independent report he commissioned into the scrapped West Coast franchise process.
Virgin has run the line, which connects Liverpool to London, since 1997.
But in August, the Department for Transport (DfT) announced that a new 13-year West Coast franchise had been awarded to rival company FirstGroup.
Intervention by Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson in mounting a legal challenge to the decision sawMr McLoughlin scrap the bidding process, saying there had been DfT mistakes.
Three officials were suspended and negotiations were started with Virgin to run the line temporarily.
