PUBLIC transport firm Arriva has missed out on a second lucrative rail franchise in as many weeks.

The Sunderland company lost out to rival National Express in the fight for the Greater Anglia rail franchise, it was announced yesterday.

That decision followed news last week that Arriva failed to even make the shortlist for the newly-created Northern Rail franchise.

However, the company was successful earlier this year in securing the 15-year franchise for the Wales and Border routes.

Julian Evans, director of communications for Arriva, said: "Out of three (franchises) so far, we have a success rate of one in three.

"With all of these things you are not going to win everyone you go for.

"We are very pleased with the Wales and Border contract. You can do a lot in 15 years - a lot for your customers, a lot for your employees and a lot for your investors."

A fourth franchise, Scot Rail, has still to be decided by the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA). Another of Arriva's rivals, First Group, was the biggest loser from the SRA's decision to award the Anglia deal to National Express.

First Group failed to make the initial shortlist.

It responded by buying GB Railways, the company that currently operates the Anglia routes.

The acquisition effectively gave the company another chance of securing the contract, as GB Railways had made it on to the shortlist - but the move was in vain, with the SRA handing Anglia to National Express.

The company said it was "extremely disappointed" by its failure to win Greater Anglia.

The new franchise, which will combine services currently run by Anglia, First Great Eastern and the West Anglia part of West Anglia Great Northern, will run for seven years with an option to extend it to ten years.

It involves running intercity, commuter and local services between London, Cambridge and Norwich.