Date confirmed for East Coast nationalisation

Date: 5/11/2009

National Express' East Coast franchise is now scheduled to dissolve on 13th November.

Transport secretary Andrew Adonis said in a statement to the House of Commons today that the East Coast Main Line company will take over running the National Express franchise on 23:59 of the 13th and will continue service without disruption.

He said: "I can assure the travelling public that services will continue without disruption and all tickets will be honoured."

National Express staff on the rail line will automatically become staff for the new East Coast Main Line and the company is expected to remain in the government control until 2011.

National Express was committed to pay £1.3 billion for the line before the recession hit, taking a toll on ticket revenues.