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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Virgin among East Coast bidders | Virgin among East Coast bidders |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Rail companies Virgin and Stagecoach have announced they are bidding to run the East Coast Mainline. | Rail companies Virgin and Stagecoach have announced they are bidding to run the East Coast Mainline. |
| The two firms said they were entering the contest to run the line, between Scotland and London, under a joint group called Inter City - Railways Ltd. | The two firms said they were entering the contest to run the line, between Scotland and London, under a joint group called Inter City - Railways Ltd. |
| The news came as the government's deadline for bids passed on Monday. | The news came as the government's deadline for bids passed on Monday. |
| Train company National Express also said it had submitted a bid, while FirstGroup previously said it intended to join the race. | Train company National Express also said it had submitted a bid, while FirstGroup previously said it intended to join the race. |
| Sir Richard Branson's Virgin company competed to run the service in 2005 but ministers awarded it to GNER, which first won the franchise in 1996. | Sir Richard Branson's Virgin company competed to run the service in 2005 but ministers awarded it to GNER, which first won the franchise in 1996. |
| In December however, the government advised GNER to pull out of the latest round of bidding after financial problems of its parent company Sea Containers were made clear. | In December however, the government advised GNER to pull out of the latest round of bidding after financial problems of its parent company Sea Containers were made clear. |
| Profits were hit by falling passenger numbers, rising power prices and the decline of Network Rail's compensation payments. | |
| High-speed | High-speed |
| A Department for Transport spokeswoman said she could not confirm which companies they had received bids from to run the service. | A Department for Transport spokeswoman said she could not confirm which companies they had received bids from to run the service. |
| She said a shortlist would be released as soon as officials had "carefully considered" each bid. | She said a shortlist would be released as soon as officials had "carefully considered" each bid. |
| Stagecoach and Virgin already work together in the Virgin Rail Group partnership and operate the West Coast Main Line and CrossCountry franchises. | Stagecoach and Virgin already work together in the Virgin Rail Group partnership and operate the West Coast Main Line and CrossCountry franchises. |
| Sir Richard said: "Together we have a breadth of skill in both high-speed operations and dealing with major infrastructure issues that is unsurpassed in the UK." | Sir Richard said: "Together we have a breadth of skill in both high-speed operations and dealing with major infrastructure issues that is unsurpassed in the UK." |
| Value for money | Value for money |
| Passengers' campaigners urged each of the bidders to ensure the line offered value for money. | Passengers' campaigners urged each of the bidders to ensure the line offered value for money. |
| Guy Dangerfield, of Passenger Focus, said he did not want to see work started by GNER go to waste. | Guy Dangerfield, of Passenger Focus, said he did not want to see work started by GNER go to waste. |
| He said: "We do not want to see things like station upgrades be lost or excessively delayed. | He said: "We do not want to see things like station upgrades be lost or excessively delayed. |
| "The service to passengers should be at the heart of this." | "The service to passengers should be at the heart of this." |
| A new contract to run the rail line is expected to have been signed within 18 months. | A new contract to run the rail line is expected to have been signed within 18 months. |