Grand Central Railways fought off a legal challenge from GNER to win the right to operate three trains a day between Sunderland, Hartlepool and London King's Cross, beginning in May.

But York-based Grand Central has since attracted interest from rival companies, with UK freight rail operator EWS and Danish State Railways both linked to a possible takeover.

However, Grand Central bosses today said nothing would stand in the company's way of launching the direct London rail service.

Sean English, Grand Central operations director, today told the Mail: "There has been interest in this business for some time now."

But he added that any speculation over a takeover would not impact on Grand Central's plans to launch its Hartlepool to London service in May.

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Rivals may buy rail firm in East Coast victory

Yorkshire Post: 18 December 2006
William Green, Political Correspondent

A FIRM that won the right to run new East Coast rail services after a bitter battle with existing operator GNER may be bought by rival companies, the Yorkshire Post has learned.

York-based Grand Central Railways won a court victory over GNER in July to operate trains between Sunderland, Yorkshire and London after a long battle between the two companies.

The new services are due to begin next May after they were approved by rail regulators, a decision that GNER has claimed was a key factor behind the loss of its East Coast franchise last week amid a financial crisis engulfing its parent company.

But in the latest twist in the long saga it has emerged that Grand Central could be bought by rivals who previously bid for the Government-awarded East Coast rail contract.

The Yorkshire Post understands that Doncaster-based rail freight operator EWS and Danish State Railways are in talks with Grand Central's owner.

Lancashire firm Fraser Eagle is the main shareholder in Grand Central and operates replacement buses for the railways, but declined to comment along with EWS – although an announcement on a possible sale could be made in the New Year.

Sean English, Grand Central's operations director, said: "The situation is that Fraser Eagle is the major shareholder of Grand Central and as far as I am concerned there is no potential of sale."

Grand Central will operate three trains a day on the route with services calling at Sunderland, Hartlepool, Eaglescliffe, Northallerton, Thirsk, York and King's Cross in London.