A RIVAL transport company today confirmed it would be interested in taking over Arriva's train services, if the troubled operator was stripped of its franchise.

First Group, which runs Metro bus services in York, said it would be "more than happy to help" if the Strategic Rail Authority approached it about taking over the northern network.

The group, which runs services on about 16 per cent of the UK rail network, denied it was poised to bid for the Transpennine Express service. But a spokesman confirmed the company would be interested in taking on the service - if Arriva was deemed unfit to run passenger trains.

Last week, Arriva was warned it faced a £2 million fine for cancelled services during the summer months.

And just yesterday, the company introduced a new winter timetable which cut another 800 Yorkshire trains every week. Selby MP John Grogan yesterday tabled a Commons motion urging the authority to investigate whether alternative companies were available to take over, should the authority decide to strip Arriva of its franchise.

But a First Group spokesman said: "We do not want to give the impression that we are hovering to take over Arriva's train network.

"Clearly, it is in the public domain that the company may be stripped of its franchise. If that was to happen then we would be more than happy to talk to the SRA about the possibility of taking on its franchise.

* High winds in Northallerton caused delays to some train services, last night. GNER trains were delayed by up to ten minutes as 80mph speed restrictions were enforced.

Updated: 11:19 Tuesday, October 30, 2001