New agreement at VTEC expected 'in months'

摘要

On November 29 Transport Secretary Chris Grayling announced that the East Coast Main Line is to become 'the first of the new generation of long-term regional partnerships which will be introduced from 2020'. Early termination of the loss-making Virgin Trains East Coast franchise is being negotiated with Stagecoach and its minority partner Virgin. To be set up over the next two years, the East Coast Partnership between the public sector and a private partner will be operated by 'a single management, under a single brand and overseen by a single leader'. It will be responsible for both intercity train operations and infrastructure management, with the private partner having 'a leading role in defining future plans for route infrastructure'.