YORK MP Hugh Bayley has enlisted the backing of his Parliamentary colleagues to support GNER's bid to win another term on the East Coast Main Line.

Mr Bayley has put forward an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons backing the York-based rail operator's quest for another seven years.

His motion, which has already been backed by heavyweight political figures like Tam Dalyell, the Father of the House of Commons, former cabinet ministers Nick Brown and Frank Dobson, Vale of York MP Anne McIntosh and Selby MP John Grogan, asks the house to note GNER's "high-quality" record since 1996.

It "calls on the Government to provide stability and continuity for the East Coast service, and to reward a successful company and its helpful staff, by awarding GNER a further franchise so that they will continue to operate this strategically important route".

Mr Bayley said that GNER's record of success, its important contribution the economies of the regions it services - particularly North Yorkshire - and the near-20,000 declarations of support for its Back the Bid petition meant it deserved another term.

"MPs along the line, from King's Cross to Dundee, are saying that the line is an economic artery for their regions," he said.

"People know that GNER provides a good service and they want them to continue the quality service that they are providing."

Early Day Motions are not usually debated, but are submitted in order to draw attention to an issue which other members can support by signing up to it.

Meanwhile, GNER today reiterated its commitment to keep its rail headquarters in York. National newspaper reports have speculated on the fate of staff who work at GNER's Station Rise headquarters and York Station should the company fail to get the SRA's backing.

But GNER bosses are confident of success, and have stated again that York is central to its plans for the coming decade. It is the only rail company in the city which still uses York as its main headquarters.

John Gelson, company spokesman, said: "York is extremely important to us. We think we are the last operator to have its full headquarters in the city.

"It is important to us because of its railway heritage and because of our relationship with the community and the initiatives we have put in place with City of York Council. York is vitally important."

Updated: 10:12 Thursday, January 20, 2005