THE new holder of the East Coast Mainline franchise must team up with the UK’s new high-speed rail scheme, York Central’s MP has said.

Hugh Bayley said such links were vital to ensuring “classic compatible” services, which are designed to run on all lines, connect York to HS2 services.

In the Commons, he asked Railways Minister Simon Burns whether the future East Coast Mainline operator would be required to work with HS2 over these connections.

He said: “The franchise-holder needs a financial stake in HS2, and maybe the two companies should share ticket revenue for the high-speed services when they run on the East Coast Mainline tracks.”