SPECULATION was mounting last night that National Express is about to become the new operator of the East Coast Main Line.
The transport group is reportedly favourite for the franchise, ahead of rival bids from Sunderland-based Arriva, the Virgin/Stagecoach consortium and First Group.
The success would help the company overcome the disappointment of the loss of its East Midlands rail franchise, which encompasses the company's existing services of Midland Mainline and Central Trains, to rival Stagecoach earlier this year.
National Express declined to comment ahead of an announcement from the Department for Transport today, which is set to name the operator.
The winner of the East Coast Main Line franchise, linking London and Edinburgh, would take over from GNER at the end of this year.
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