TRAIN operator GNER has revealed figures showing it carried a record number of passengers last year.

About 16.6 million people travelled with GNER last year, an increase of ten per cent on the year before, when 15.1 million journeys were made.

GNER is carrying 34 per cent more passengers on 22 per cent more daily services compared to when it began operating East Coast services in April 1996.

The operator runs about 65 services through Darlington, Durham and Newcastle every weekday.

The East Coast Main Line links the North-East to London, as well as the East Midlands, Yorkshire and Humberside, and Scotland.

Christopher Garnett, the chief executive of GNER, said: "We are delighted that record numbers of passengers chose to travel with us last year.

"We have introduced significant improvements, such as wireless Internet on rebuilt trains and new, permanently low fares, to make travelling by train more comfortable and affordable.

"With almost two-thirds of our new Mallard trains now in service and the latest phase of our station improvement programme complete, we have an excellent foundation to build on.

"More and more people are recognising the benefits of long-distance train travel versus the car or plane."

Last month, GNER was awarded a ten-year franchise, which starts next month.

It expects passenger numbers to continue to rise by about 30 per cent over the next ten years. It plans to encourage more people to travel on off-peak train by offering discounts.