GLASGOW will have an hourly train service to London for the first time later this year.

Virgin Trains is to introduce new trains between Glasgow Central and London Euston, offering an extra 1750 seats a day between the two cities.

Bosses for the train company said the move was in response to demand for travel between London and Glasgow.

Karen Hattie, general manager for Virgin Trains in Scotland and Cumbria, said: "Overall passenger numbers have more than doubled on our routes.

"The extra capacity will provide a great opportunity for even more passengers to enjoy the service."

The timetable announcement follows the recent row over which operator should run the West Coast Main Line.

Virgin has run the line since 1997 but in August the Department for Transport announced a new 13-year franchise had been awarded to rail rival FirstGroup.

Three DfT civil servants were suspended after the bidding competition was halted earlier this month when "significant technical flaws" were found in the way the franchise process had been conducted. Virgin was then asked to continue running the line for the next nine to 13 months.

The new West Coast service will start on Monday, December 10.

Two extra Glasgow services will be introduced in each direction to deliver a train every hour for the first time.

The new daily total of 15 Pendolino tilting trains each way represents a doubling of the number of weekday services between Glasgow Central and London Euston since 1997.

Departures will be one an hour from Glasgow Central at 30 to 40 minutes past the hour from 5.40am to 6.40pm.

catriona.stewart@ eveningtimes.co.uk