THE boss of York-based rail firm East Coast has admitted she wants its trains to be more punctual as it prepares to launch a new timetable next month.

Managing director Karen Boswell said the timetable – nicknamed Eureka – would offer faster journeys as well as three million extra seats a year.

It will include direct return services from London King’s Cross to Harrogate and a four-hour early morning Flying Scotsman express service between Edinburgh and London, calling at Newcastle only and arriving in London at 9.40am.

Between them, Darlington, Durham and Northallerton also get 23 extra weekday services and 34 on weekends.

The timetable has faced opposition from rival operator Grand Central, which previously hinted at legal action after claiming the priority given to East Coast trains would lengthen journey times on its trains between Sunderland and London.

Publicly-run East Coast has recently lagged behind other long-distance train operators when it comes to the number of trains running on time.

Yesterday it showed off its new complimentary meal-and- drink service for first-class passengers on a journey from London to York.

Ms Boswell said: “As far as punctuality is concerned, we are not where we want to be.

“But a lot of the problems have not been our fault. From next month we are offering increased journeys and improved journey times.’’ The Department for Transport took over the running of the London to Scotland East Coast Main Line at the end of 2009 when the previous operator, National Express, gave up the franchise.

East Coast will revert to the private sector at the end of next year.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for Grand Central said it continued to have concerns about extended journey times to its services as a result of the new timetable.

However, he also said that the company believed there were improved journey opportunities for its North-East passengers to call at new stations along its route – such as Doncaster – which previously had not been served.