AMBITIOUS, certainly. Bold, even. GNER's bid to take over every rail service into King's Cross shows a company ready to wrest back its destiny.

Such decisiveness is a particular virtue in an industry plagued by short-term, timid management.

GNER has proved itself to be Britain's best train operator. It provides a fast service, is generally more reliable than its competitors, and has won high passenger satisfaction ratings. Yet instead of being rewarded, it was punished.

First, the previous Transport Secretary Stephen Byers failed to award GNER the 20-year franchise for the East Coast Main Line, preventing it from building on its achievements.

Then the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) signalled its intent to reduce the number of train operating companies. That threatened GNER, one of the few single-franchise firms.

Earlier this month, we reported how the York-based company was concentrating on a bid for a three, rather than 20-year, franchise. We urged them not to abandon the long-term view.

It now transpires that GNER bosses are very much looking to the future; they want to take over the WAGN and Thameslink franchises and become the sole operator out of King's Cross.

This seems in line with SRA thinking. Although the authority is keeping GNER in the dark about many of its plans, we know it favours reducing the number of train operating companies.

Eventually, this streamlining of our fragmented rail network should be ensure a better service for the passenger. GNER, then, can hope that its strategy will receive a sympathetic hearing from the SRA.

Its York staff are bound to be unsettled, however. This railway city is the perfect place for the headquarters of a firm whose key route joins London and Edinburgh. GNER's plan to make King's Cross its hub could have placed York's position in doubt.

That is why the firm's renewed commitment to our city is so very welcome.

Updated: 11:33 Thursday, June 20, 2002