The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) said it is 'minded to approve' access rights to Grand Central for three new daily direct services between the capital and the north east English city on the East Coast Main Line (ECML).

The proposed decision would mean applications from Sea Containers unit Great North Eastern Railway (GNER) for additional rights to serve Leeds, and from Grand Central to serve Bradford, would be turned down.

However, the ORR said it expects that when track operator Network Rail has produced its future strategy for the ECML, it should be possible to accommodate additional passenger services on the route without compromising the interests of freight operators such as EWS and FirstGroup PLC unit GB Railfreight.

'We are asking Network Rail to prioritise this work,' the ORR said in a statement.

The ORR said it also is minded to approve continuation of a current temporary access right for one service daily between London and Hull run by FirstGroup open access operator Hull Trains, provided capacity is available.