A RAILWAY campaign group has said it hopes some price increases and other “pennypinching measures” will be reversed if another operator takes over the East Coast Main Line franchise from National Express.

National Express has said it will not fund the franchise beyond the end of the year, having failed to reach agreement with the Government to re-negotiate the terms of its contract.

The Government has responded by saying it is to take control of the line until a new operator can be found.

Railfuture North-East, which previously warned that the deal which was to see National Express pay a total of £1.4bn to the Government, was foolish and would “end in tears”, said the firm’s statement that it could withdraw from operating East Coast services was of little surprise to anyone.

A spokesman said now was the time to look forward and said it welcomed Transport Secretary Lord Adonis’s pledge to secure better services and facilities.

He said: “We hope that the opportunity will be taken to reinstate some of the restaurant services which were withdrawn and to reverse the car parking price increases and other penny-pinching measures.

“It is important that passengers are not deterred from using the service by confusion over its future, and we welcome the Government’s commitment to keep the service running as usual.”