National Express awarded contract to operate services on major UK rail route
{{date|August 14, 2007}}
[[Image:Nxgroup.gif|right|thumb|National Express Group logo]]
NXEC Trains Ltd, a subsidiary of [[w:National Express Group|National Express Group]], has been awarded the contract to run the [[w:InterCity East Coast franchise|InterCity East Coast franchise]] and operate intercity rail services on the [[w:East Coast Main Line|East Coast Main Line]], a high-speed route connecting [[London]] with the north-east of [[England]] and [[Scotland]]. The company, which is to brand the service as ''National Express East Coast'', will take over the franchise from the current operator [[w:Great North Eastern Railway|Great North Eastern Railway]] (GNER) from December 9, 2007.

GNER's contract was initially due to run until 2015 but was terminated early by the [[w:Department for Transport|Department for Transport]] after its parent company, [[w:Sea Containers Ltd|Sea Containers Ltd]], found itself in financial difficulties which meant it was unable to pay the [[w:Pound sterling|£]]1.3 billion it had promised in its bid to run the service.

A number of other bids were made for the franchise. These were from [[w:Arriva|Arriva]], [[w:FirstGroup plc|FirstGroup]], and a partnership of [[w:Stagecoach Group|Stagecoach]], [[w:Virgin Group|Virgin]], and GNER.

Richard Bowker, chief executive of National Express Group, said, "We are absolutely delighted that we have won the UK’s premier intercity railway.  We have won with a bid which is ambitious, deliverable and structured to generate shareholder value."

==Sources==
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6945367.stm
|title=National Express wins rail route
|author=
|pub=BBC News Online
|date=August 14, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/passenger/franchises/icecf1/nxecawardedcontract
|title=National Express awarded contract for growth on InterCity East Coast
|author=
|pub=Department for Transport
|date=August 14, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.nationalexpressgroup.com/nx/mc/companynews/pressrelease/?id=4336196
|title=National Express Group Awarded InterCity East Coast Franchise
|author=
|pub=National Express Group
|date=August 14, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://business.guardian.co.uk/story/0,,2148382,00.html
|title=National Express wins east coast mainline rail franchise
|author=Graeme Wearden
|pub=Guardian Unlimited
|date=August 14, 2007}}

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[[Category:United Kingdom]]
[[Category:England]]
[[Category:Scotland]]
[[Category:Transport]]
[[Category:Economy and business]]
National Express Group logo
NXEC Trains Ltd, a subsidiary of National Express Group, has been awarded the contract to run the InterCity East Coast franchise and operate intercity rail services on the East Coast Main Line, a high-speed route connecting London with the north-east of England and Scotland. The company, which is to brand the service as National Express East Coast, will take over the franchise from the current operator Great North Eastern Railway (GNER) from December 9, 2007.

GNER's contract was initially due to run until 2015 but was terminated early by the Department for Transport after its parent company, Sea Containers Ltd, found itself in financial difficulties which meant it was unable to pay the £1.3 billion it had promised in its bid to run the service.

A number of other bids were made for the franchise. These were from Arriva, FirstGroup, and a partnership of Stagecoach, Virgin, and GNER.

Richard Bowker, chief executive of National Express Group, said, "We are absolutely delighted that we have won the UK’s premier intercity railway.  We have won with a bid which is ambitious, deliverable and structured to generate shareholder value."
United Kingdom England Scotland Transport Economy and business