YORK rail passengers have lost two years of faster tilting train services because of indecision over the new East Coast franchise, the Evening Press has learned.

York-based train operator GNER had pledged to bring in 140mph tilting trains by 2004 if it won the 20-year East Coast Main Line franchise.

The tilters would cut journey times to London to just 92 minutes.

But a delay in announcing the preferred bidder means GNER has missed its slot with train manufacturer Fiat, meaning passengers will now have to wait until 2006 for the fast services if the train company is successful. The decision on the preferred bidder for the franchise, between Virgin and the York company, has been put off since July last year, leaving GNER management frustrated.

"We are keen for an announcement to be made so that, if we are successful, we can get on with delivering benefits to passengers," said spokesman Alan Hyde.

"Our 3,000 staff would be interested to hear the decision."

He added that he could not rule out a situation where the East Coast Main Line had been upgraded, but GNER would not have the new £15 million tilting trains ready to run.

Officers from City of York Council are writing to the Department of Transport, Environment and the Regions to push them to make a decision for the "good of the city".

The council's assistant director for economic development, Tony Bennett, said that the council were keen to know who the franchisee will be so they can begin discussions about the future of rail travel for York passengers.

He added that the council had already given their backing to GNER at the time the rival companies announced their bids last year.

The Strategic Rail Authority made its decision on the franchise on December 4 which it then passed to the Department of Transport, Environment and the Regions.

The department is in the process of ratifying the decision, which has consistently been put off since Christmas.

It is believed to be in the hands of the Treasury at the moment, and rival bidder Virgin has written to the rail authority demanding an explanation for the delay in announcing the franchise winner.

GNER has pledged to create 1,000 new jobs if its franchise to run services on the flagship line was renewed.

It has claimed that the 25 new tilting trains would make services so frequent that passengers could "almost throw away their timetables".

Station improvements are also part of the company's £3 billion bid for the franchise.

Updated: 16:15 Tuesday, February 06, 2001