National Express take over operation of major UK rail route from GNER
{{date|December 9, 2007}}
[[Image:Natex logo.gif|thumb|right|National Express Group logo]]
[[Image:NXEC HST 43300 S Crozier.jpg|thumb|right|300px|[[w:Intercity 125|Intercity 125]] in [[w:National Express East Coast|National Express East Coast]] livery {{image source|[http://steven-crozier.fotopic.net/ Steven Crozier]}}]]
[[Image:NXEC 225 Kings Cross TPage.jpg|thumb|right|225px|National Express branding has been added over the old GNER livery before the new livery is applied{{image source|[http://flickr.com/photos/73422480@N00 Tom Page]}}]]
[[w:National Express East Coast|National Express East Coast]] has begun operating intercity rail services on the [[w:East Coast Main Line|East Coast Main Line]] connecting [[London]] with the north-east of [[England]] and [[Scotland]] after it was awarded the franchise earlier this year. [[w:GNER|GNER]], the previous operator, had their contract terminated early when parent company [[w:Sea Containers Ltd|Sea Containers Ltd]] encountered financial difficulties.

GNER could not afford to pay the [[w:Pound sterling|£]]1.3 billion premium it had promised the government, and whilst National Express have promised £1.4 billion, the larger contributions are scheduled for towards the end of the franchise when revenues should be better as increases in capacity and the estimated growth in rail travel take effect.

The new operator, part of the [[w:National Express Group|National Express Group]], has committed to making an number of improvements to the service as part of the franchise contract. One of the first changes for passengers travelling today will be that the on-board [[w:wireless internet|wireless internet]] service is now free for all passengers. 

Elsewhere on the UK railway network, today also saw [[w:TransPennine Express|TransPennine Express]] begin services from [[w:Manchester|Manchester]] to Edinburgh and [[w:Glasgow|Glasgow]] after a change in the Cross Country franchise saw the services leaving [[w:Virgin Trains|Virgin Trains]].

==Related news==
*{{wikinews|title=National Express awarded contract to operate services on major UK rail route|date=August 14, 2007}}

== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2007/12/09/ccne109.xml
|title=National Express back on track with rail win
|author=
|pub=The Daily Telegraph
|date=December 9, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7134314.stm
|title=Passengers see East Coast switch
|author=
|pub=BBC News Online
|date=December 8, 2007}}

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[[Category:Europe]]
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[[Category:England]]
[[Category:Scotland]]
[[Category:Transport]]
[[Category:Economy and business]]
National Express Group logo
Intercity 125 in National Express East Coast livery 
National Express branding has been added over the old GNER livery before the new livery is applied
National Express East Coast has begun operating intercity rail services on the East Coast Main Line connecting London with the north-east of England and Scotland after it was awarded the franchise earlier this year. GNER, the previous operator, had their contract terminated early when parent company Sea Containers Ltd encountered financial difficulties.

GNER could not afford to pay the £1.3 billion premium it had promised the government, and whilst National Express have promised £1.4 billion, the larger contributions are scheduled for towards the end of the franchise when revenues should be better as increases in capacity and the estimated growth in rail travel take effect.

The new operator, part of the National Express Group, has committed to making an number of improvements to the service as part of the franchise contract. One of the first changes for passengers travelling today will be that the on-board wireless internet service is now free for all passengers. 

Elsewhere on the UK railway network, today also saw TransPennine Express begin services from Manchester to Edinburgh and Glasgow after a change in the Cross Country franchise saw the services leaving Virgin Trains.
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