Avanti West Coast admits: we’re not good enough but are making progress

Operator insists service will be turned round by Christmas as travellers report late and overcrowded trains

Avanti West Coast bosses have admitted we're still not good enough", a week after its contract was controversially renewed, but insisted that the failing intercity train service will be turned round by Christmas.

The train operator cut back its schedules and stopped selling advance tickets in August, blaming a lack of staff overtime - causing enormous disruption to Britain's major rail artery linking cities between London and Glasgow.