RIVAL rail firms GNER and Virgin yesterday launched their bids to run East Coast Main Line train services.

GNER and a joint venture between the Virgin Group and Stagecoach both submitted detailed bids for the franchise, which will run for up to ten years from May.

Current East Coast Main Line operator GNER, whose headquarters are in York, was supported by former Newcastle United Football Club boss Sir Bobby Robson.

Sir Bobby was at Durham station on his way to London for business and social engagements, and gave his backing to GNER.

Also among the company's supporters were the cast of Cinderella, this year's pantomime being staged at the York Grand Opera House.

Tim Vincent and co-stars took a break from their festive preparations to sign GNER's Back Our Bid petition at York station.

GNER chief executive Christopher Garnett said: "I am confident that we have submitted the winning bid.

"We have spelled out a blueprint to take services on the East Coast Main Line to new heights of reliability, quality and value-for-money.

"Our ambition is the creation of a rail service to rival the best in the world."

Virgin and Stagecoach said its bid would deliver significant benefits to passengers and taxpayers.

They said these would include improvements to services and facilities at stations.

The consortium's bid director, Simon Bailey, said: "We believe that our track record in delivering record investment and improvements for passengers within our existing Cross Country and West Country operations puts us in a strong position to enhance services further for East coast customers."

Four companies - GNER, First Group, DSB (part of Danish railways) and the Virgin/Stagecoach consortium -have been shortlisted by the Strategic Rail Authority to run East Coast inter-city services.

* Staff from rail company TransPennine Express will offer a few festive chat-up lines today to passengers at the North-East's biggest railway station.

Staff at Newcastle central station will present their guide on how to survive the Christmas party season and the mad shopping rush.

Passengers will be given pink lollipops, suggestions for chat-up lines and advice on buying presents.

David Mallender, a spokesman for TransPennine Express, said: "It is all a bit of fun which is to underline the point that you can take the train to avoid the hassle of car parking when shopping and that you can celebrate in the run-up to Christmas without driving into town."