Commuters on the West Coast main line have suffered repeated disruption in the past few months because of track works and power failures.

Leader of the Commons Harriet Harman said she would talk to Transport ministers after MP Phyllis Starkey raised the issue on Thursday.

Dr Starkey told her she had been alerted to a problem on the line just south of Milton Keynes earlier in the day.

"This time it appears to be a massive signal failure. Last week, it was blamed on a power failure.

"Will the Leader of the House consider holding a debate in this House on the reliability of the West Coast main line and transparency on the part of Network Rail about why problems occur and when it is going to put them right?"

Network Railwork confirmed failures of power cables that had been in service since the 1960s.

"West Coast main line has been under a great deal of scrutiny for the past decade. It is an important project for the country.

"We accept there have been frustrations for passengers and we apologise for that," as spokesman said.

Green Party transport spokesman and former Rail User Group chairman Alan Francis queried whether recent power breadowns were linked to works at Central Milton Keynes station where they Network Rail are building the extra platforms.

The central station scheme is due to end by December -as is the complete re-building further up the line of Rugby station which has also been disrupting services.

"Once these are fiinished, then in theory we won't have all these weekend closures and other problems. By the beginning of next year we should have a better railway." he said.
"When you are trying to rebuild something like the West Coast line - which is essentially Victorian - and keep it running at the same time it is difficult."