Rail company GNER has confirmed it may bid to run all train services into London Kings Cross.

This would expand its existing francise for East Coast Main Line (ECML) services from London to Scotland through the North-East.

The York-based company hopes a possible reduction in the overall number of rail franchises could see it takeover existing Thameslink services from Bedford to London, and north London commuter services to East Anglia and Hertfordshire, currently run by WAGN.

The prospect of a "superfranchise" was raised following evidence to MPs by GNER boss Christopher Garnett.

As reported in The Northern Echo yesterday, he revealed that the company had dropped previous demands for a long-term, 15 or 20-year franchise for the East Coast Main Line, in favour of a three- year extension of the existing franchise until 2008.

He told MPs that the "world had changed", and only a three-year extension was now crucial in order to get new rolling stock on their already overcrowded main line services.

Continuing uncertainty over upgrading the ECML meant the company could not plan ahead properly.

However, in evidence to the committee, Mr Garnett said the company also backed the Strategic Rail Authority's ''desire to rationalise the franchise map by reducing the number of franchisees''. This would "bring capacity and performance benfits".

A spokesman for GNER last night confirmed that bidding for a much larger franchise would be an "opportunity".

Meanwhile, conductors on Arriva Trains Northern will stage ten fresh 24-hour strikes in a dispute over pay, the RMT union has announced.