West Coast Mainline petition signatures top 100,000

An e-petition urging the government to reconsider changing the operator of the West Coast Mainline rail service has attracted more than 100,000 signatures.

Virgin Rail lost its bid to continue running the line to rivals FirstGroup. The petition, on the Downing Street website, now has enough support to trigger a debate in Parliament.

But the government has said the deal with FirstGroup could be agreed as early as next week - before MPs return from their summer break.

Alan Soady reports.