Cameron urged to intervene in rail row

David Cameron, the British prime minister, must intervene in the row over the West Coast Mainline contract to “get some sense” into the Department for Transport over the controversial deal, Richard Branson urged yesterday.

The Virgin boss has offered to effectively run the route for free to allow the decision awarding the 13-year franchise to FirstGroup to be re-examined.

It comes as Labour urged transport secretary Justine Greening not to sign off on the contract until MPs have been able to scrutinise it in detail.