Transport Secretary Lord Adonis has overturned the Office of Rail Regulation's plan to cut the service, although only one of the Edinburgh-bound trains leaving Motherwell will continue to London.

However, the number of trains stopping at Motherwell on the West Coast line will increase from three to five. Motherwell will also be a stop on the new Glasgow to Leeds and Sheffield services.

The plan was to have East Coast services to London starting at Edinburgh instead of Glasgow. That will happen but Lord Adonis has acknowledged the Glasgow-Motherwell-Edinburgh service is well-used and should remain.

He said: "I have agreed stops at Motherwell for an additional two West Coast services to maintain the town's London connections.

"Motherwell will also gain from the new Glasgow to Leeds and Sheffield services and there will be no reduction in Motherwell to Edinburgh services."

Motherwell and Wishaw MP Frank Roy, who met Lord Adonis to express his concern at the orginal proposals, welcomed the change of heart.

He said: "It is imperative that Motherwell remains part of the East Coast route and we not only have that but also new services to Yorkshire. I would rather have those than retain all the London services."

However, both Motherwell and Wishaw MSP Jack McConnell and North Lanarkshire Council leader both want more London services retained and have taken issue with the proposed timetables.

The Office of Rail Regulation is expected to start consultation on the new timetables in the next few weeks in order for them to be introduced in May 2011.

Full story in January 28 edition of Motherwell Times