Virgin Trains will continue to run the West Coast mainline until April 2017, following a long-running row over who will operate the route.
Rail travellers are facing misery over Christmas as Network Rail will start a major engineering project on the West Coast Main Line.
An interim investigation has found that the West Coast rail line bidding was flawed with “technical difficulties”.
Liverpool Central Station has fully reopened following its £20m refurbishment, having been shut since April.
The Government has scrapped its decision to award the west coast train operation, including the Liverpool to London line, to FirstGroup.
Virgin Rail has lost the Liverpool to London train contract, as the new 13-year franchise has been awarded to rivals FirstGroup.