New emerged this week that East Coast Mainline rail operator National Express has pulled out of running the prestigious route (which runs trains between Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Aberdeen and London via York) as they admitted to being unable to pay the £1.4 bn that it agreed to pay to operate the franchise for seven years.

The news prompted the governmment to announce that the route will temporarily shift back into public sector control, probably around October in order to keep the services running as normal. It is expected that the government will stage a competition for the franchise in late 2010.

Early indications are that Scottish Transport group First are in pole position to take over the contract. FirstGroup are the UK's biggest transport operator - running 5 rail franchises, including ScotRail.




What are your opinions on this matter?

• Who should win the new contract?
• Should the government take control of this line permanently?
• Is a franchise capable of running this line? - GNER and National Express couldn't do it

We will await developments on this story with interest.........