Train times will be reduced following the �7.6bn upgrade

From 2009, a �7.6bn improvement to the West Coast Main Line will see the quickest journey times to Glasgow reduced to four hours 15 minutes.

The fastest time to and from Birmingham will be one hour 18 minutes, and to Manchester as little as two hours.

A rail watchdog welcomed the news but said more information about current disruption to passengers was needed.

In a progress report on the upgrade, the government outlined other timetable changes.

They include:

• London to West Midlands served by a train every 20 minutes to Coventry, Birmingham International and Birmingham New Street

• Coventry passengers able to reach the capital in just one hour and hourly trains between Birmingham and Milton Keynes

• London to Liverpool about 20 minutes faster and more peak hour trains

• More trains between London, Lancashire, Cumbria and Scotland with journey times reduced

• New through train to Manchester Airport for Scottish passengers

Rail Minister Derek Twigg said: "Passengers have already seen faster journey times and improving reliability delivered by this project, and this is why so many more passengers are now using the West Coast Rail Line.

"These improvements from the project are even greater than we thought would be possible when this work started."

The faster train times were welcomed by rail watchdog Passenger Focus.

Julie Warburton, of the group, said: "We think it is excellent news.

"There has been a huge investment in the West Coast Main Line but there is still major disruption at the weekends which is forcing passengers on to coaches."