Date: 17/06/2011

It is now almost two years since the announcement that the embattled National Express franchise running along the east coast mainline was to be formally renationalised, establishing a new operator, East Coast Rail, connecting much of the North East and Yorkshire with both London and Scotland

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Is it time to re-privatise East Coast rail?

Guardian

The Northerner's Friday political columnist Ed Jacobs looks at the problems besetting one of the north's main transport links

Related images

An 'East Coast' 125 nears Aberdour on 10 May with the morning Leeds - Aberdeen service, running between its scheduled stops at Inverkeithing and Kirkcaldy. The fact that 17 minutes is allowed for these 13 miles is, I'm afraid, down to the Victorians, since the line was not engineered for speed. It has an unlikely summit at Dalgety, only short straights, plus 20/25mph restrictions through Burntisland station and Kinghorn tunnel.
Location: Aberdour
Company: Aberdour Line (North British Railway)
10/05/2010 David Panton

The 'East Coast' 07.55 Inverness - London Kings Cross Highland Chieftain HST pulls away from its penultimate stop at York on 25 March 2010.
Location: York
Company: York and North Midland Railway
25/03/2010 John Furnevel

Waiting to depart from Glasgow Central with the 0750 service to London Kings Cross on 9 August 2010, DVT 82202 shows off the new silver branding that is being applied to the fleet by East Coast Railways.
Location: Glasgow Central
Company: Glasgow Central Station (Caledonian Railway)
09/08/2010 Graham Morgan