A powerful West Midland business transport group is urgently seeking to press home the needs of the region with potential bidders following today's announcement that Virgin Trains' request for a two-year extension to its West Coast rail contract has been rejected. 

The West Midlands Business Transport Group (WMBTG) comprises of all major business representation organisations in the West Midlands.

The franchise expires in March 2012 and Martin Dyer, who chairs the WMBTG, said: " Whilst this is bad news for Virgin, we encourage them and other train operators to sit down with the business community. 

"We want to engage with prospective franchisees to highlight the needs of the area." 

Jerry Blackett, chief executive of Birmingham Chamber Group and former chair of the WMBTG, said: "A future franchisee would have an impact on the economic well-being of the Midlands, and we would wish to see a policy of active engagement with business. 

"Based on discussions with prospective franchisees, Birmingham Chamber Group will also provide a view to the UK Department for Transport on the alignment of the potential franchisee with the perceived needs of business.

"Services from London to the West Midlands have not enjoyed the recent journey time reductions that have been experienced on routes between London, Liverpool, Manchester and Preston. West Midlands business is concerned that this has created a competitive disadvantage and we will be making this point to prospective franchisees."