United front for East Coast rail franchise

United front for East Coast rail franchise United front for East Coast rail franchise

COUNCIL bosses from towns and cities along the East Coast main line have met in York in a bid to have a greater say in the future of its franchise.

The meeting was called for and chaired by City of York Council leader James Alexander as the Department for Transport announced the franchise process would not be put on hold amid the fiasco surrounding the West Coast main line.

He said councils along the East Coast route should present a “strong position” to the Government and call for improvements in the line’s infrastructure, with representatives attending from local authorities as far south as Stevenage and as far north as East Lothian in Scotland as well as from Leeds.

The group agreed to draw up a memorandum of understanding which will see them work together to put forward a “collective position” over the route and ask for fuller involvement in the franchise process.

Comments(3)

Haywire says...
8:18am Tue 16 Oct 12

Wouldn't mind being a fly on the wall at this one!

Zetkin says...
9:53am Tue 16 Oct 12

Shame they didn't go a step further and call for an end to the utterly discredited franchising system and a full return of rail services to the public sector, which can deliver better services for less money.

Of course the likes of Branson will scream blue murder about losing their multi-million subsidies, but it's high time public transport was run for the benefit of the public, not billionaire businessmen.

Even AndyD says...
12:01pm Tue 16 Oct 12

Lots of Council stories on the Press today, but none of our affordable housing friends out to play? What is going on? I'm dying through want of 'outrage' here! :o)

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