Congratulations to GNER, for keeping their franchise and, phew, what a relief

It's a real victory for people power; 30,000 customers signed their postal and online petition.

As one of those essential regular users of the East Coast line I hope the Evening Press will spare us the cheesy photocall which will no doubt follow Alastair Darling's formal announcement today?

We really don't need to see our MP gripping Chris Garnett's hand and grinning inanely for the cameras.

GNER was fortunate that the East Coast line passes through the

constituency of the Prime Minister and three other Cabinet ministers.

With their backing for GNER it was virtually certain no other bid applicant would succeed. While all the Conservative MPs backed GNER's bid, can York's MP tell us why 16 MPs from Labour failed to back his Early Day Motion for GNER?

Spare us the victory photocrawl. Let's hear it instead for GNER's 30,000 supporters and staff. Well done us!

Clive Booth,

York's Conservative Parliamentary Candidate,

Ash Street, York.

Updated: 09:37 Tuesday, March 22, 2005