Sate-controlled East Coast Main Line set to go back into private hands
THE East Coast Main Line rail route from Edinburgh to London, now effectively under state control, will pass back into private hands in November 2011 under Government plans announced today.
A public sector company – East Coast – took over the East Coast Main Line from cash-strapped franchisee National Express earlier this month.
Today, Transport Secretary Lord Adonis said the Department for Transport would be consulting on the new East Coast franchise specification in spring 2010.
It is expected that interested parties will be invited to tend for the franchise next autumn, with the successful bidder being announced in summer 2011 and the new franchise beginning in November 2011.
Rail unions have urged the Government to keep the East Coast Main Line in the public sector, but the Government has always maintained it planned to have the line privately operated again.
Email to a friend
Print this page- Rangers takeover: Duff & Phelps threaten legal action against BBC
- Today’s youth not fit to be employed, says car firm Arnold Clark
- Family mourn death of Glasgow ‘fight’ schoolboy
- Rangers administration: Fans fear Duff & Phelps claims could scare off Green
- Rangers takeover: triple penalty punishment enough, says Johnston
- Alistair Darling leads ‘No to independence’ fight over tea and biscuits
- Scottish independence: SNP flip-flops over Nato
- Scottish Independence: SNP ‘won’t be Yes campaign’s only voice’
- Today’s youth not fit to be employed, says car firm Arnold Clark
- Scottish independence: ‘People here are best qualified to run Scotland’
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Edinburgh
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: North east
