PASSENGERS have been promised a raft of improvements for the East Coast Main Line franchise by National Express, but may pay for some of them through ticket price rises.

The company indicated that it may increase unregulated fares - those not controlled by Government - by an average of 2.1 per cent above inflation for each year of its new contract, which runs until 2015.

Customer watchdog Passenger Focus welcomed plans for new and improved services, but said it was concerned at the cumulative effect of the price rises.

Passenger Focus manager Guy Dangerfield said above-inflation fare rises "could amount to a 45 per cent price increase over the length of the franchise".

It would mean a York to London standard open return ticket rising from £179 to £259 by 2015.

Meanwhile the new contract signed by National Express has pledged to deliver:

l Up to 25 extra train services - about 14,000 seats - each weekday from December 2010.

l Up to 40 more carriages in use.

l Faster journeys, for instance London to York in 1 hour, 45 minutes and London to Leeds in two hours

l A new London-York service operating at two-hourly intervals.

l Better performance so nine out of every ten trains run on time.

l Greener trains, with a commitment to reduce fuel consumption, and £400,000 invested in reducing energy use at stations and depots.

l A simpler website that will highlight the cheapest tickets available and the expected seat availability on each train.

l Internet wireless access free in Standard Class.

l Full dining services retained on 87 weekday trains.

l About £2m is being invested in upgrades for the key York, Darlington, Durham and Newcastle stations.

l At York, £670,000 will be spent on a new first-class lounge, lighting and bridge repairs, and on the creation of 200 more car parking spaces.

In Darlington, more than £500,000 will go on new entrances to the station and on extra cycle storage spaces.

National Express Group chief executive Richard Bowker said: "We are absolutely delighted. We are confident that we will be able to grow the business and increase the number of passengers by providing a service that is value-for-money and aimed at making travel simpler.

"We will offer improved reliability, more trains and seats, easier ways to purchase tickets and updated catering.

"Our plans have been developed through close consultation with a wide range of stakeholders, and we look forward to working with them to deliver a truly world-class railway."

Alex Nelson, the manager of Chester-le-Street railway station, who also runs the independent ticket agency Chester-le-Track, said he had been consulted by National Express during the preparation of its bid and believed passengers could look forward to an improved service.

He said: "I do not think passengers have anything to fear.

"National Express' Midland Mainline franchise is a very well-run franchise and the most punctual in the country.

"As for fare rises, the biggest rises that people need to worry about are the ones that have already occurred.