UNIONS were last night hoping that a deal can be struck to secure the future of a rail firm's call centre and its 200 plus staff.

The Northern Echo understands that Sea Containers, owner of East Coast Main Line operator GNER, has been attempting to dispose of Baron House, which handles train ticket sales.

The call centre, based in Newcastle, does not form part of the East Coast franchise and, as such, will not automatically pass on to GNER's successor National Express when it takes over the contract on December 9.

Should no deal be struck between Sea Containers and National Express to take over the centre, its future and that of its 220 staff would be uncertain.

Sea Containers has been forced to rapidly slim down its operations as part of a financial restructuring since filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the US last year.

Brian Brock, a regional organiser with the TSSA union, which represents ticket office staff, said: "I have asked National Express what they are doing and, until they make that decision, we are a bit lost.

"The call centre is key to the franchise and the set-up there is great.

"The options are either that National Express takes it over or Sea Containers sells it to a third party. Our preferred option is that they take it over."

In the past 12 months, Baron House handled more than two million enquiries from customers and generated more than £65m worth of ticket sales.

Last week it was recognised in a Europe-wide industry awards ceremony for its effort a better service to customers through a programme of continuous improvement.

National Express was handed the reins to East Coast Main Lline services following a Department for Transport competition earlier this year. It will replace GNER which has operated trains on the route for the past 11 years.

A National Express spokeswoman said: "We are discussing the future of the call centre with Sea Containers. We understand the good work that is done there and are trying to sort something out as speedily as possible."

One sticking point in the negotiations is thought to be whether any takeover by National Express would involve a so-called "TUPE transfer" of staff. TUPE protects workers' terms and conditions should a business be transferred to another company, which then bears the associated cost