A DECISION on who will run the new Transpennine Express rail franchise moved a step closer yesterday as a shortlist of four firms, two from the region, was drawn up by the Shadow Strategic Rail Authority.

The franchise will run services linking the North-East to Manchester and Liverpool, with the shortlist whittled down to two early next year, before a final decison is made after which a decision will be made.

Mike Grant, SSRA chief executive and franchising director, revealed that ''In light of the pressure of current network problems on operators'' it would take time to allow proposals to be put together.

The shortlisted firms are North-East firms Arriva, which currently runs the Northern Spirit and Merseyrail franchises, and ViaGTI and First Group.

ViaGTI is part of the Govia group, which includes Go-Ahead, while First Group runs the Great Eastern, Great Western and North Western rail franchises.

Also in the running are Connex Transport, which runs the South Eastern franchise which it was revealed last month it would be losing to Govia, and Serco Rail, operator of the Manchester Metrolink.

Arriva revealed earlier this year it was commiting itself to reducing journey times between Newcastle and Liverpool to three hours.

The Sunderland-based transport group has previously stated it intended to double the present service to the North-West, opening up the underused east coast section of track from Sunderland to York, and offering more passengers a direct route to Manchester and Liverpool.

It has promised to invest in new trains and provide a more efficient infrastructure.

Included in Arriva's document, which outlines its plans for the future of rail travel in the region, the company says it will open a centre of excellence to provide customers with up-to-date information.

The current Transpennine service is operated by Northern Spirit, now part of the Arriva Group, and among those who have been ruled out are Virgin Rail Group and National Express