Virgin trains report that due to the unworkable engineering plans of Network Rails, millions of rail travelers using the London-to-Glasgow route will be forced with the hassles of worse overcrowding and more number of bus replacement services. The new work programme suggested by its board is expected to affect the commuter journeys of over 2.5m on the west coast line causing disruptions and troubles on most of the weekends till the end of December.

Virgin Trains feels that this plan is bound to force the cancellation of the services during weekdays and weekends, with the Network Rail scrambling to meet the deadline proposed in the month of December. Virgin Trains states, "Virgin Trains has significant concerns over the viability of introducing this plan, due to the huge disruption that will be caused to our customers, inevitable severe overcrowding on many trains, effect on our revenue and the reputational damage that will be suffered in the longer term."

Network Rail has however requested the Rail Regulation Office to approve the programme. In response to this appeal, the ORR has directed the rail infrastructure company to propose new procedures to upgrade the west coast line. This move followed an investigation over last year's lat-running engineering works.

Virgin Trains said, "Further work should be urgently carried out to establish the detail of this option. Delaying delivery until 2009 would require other works currently planned for 2009 to be deferred, leading to probable delays due to resource limitations."