Updated: PASSENGERS have been promised a new fleet of trains and better stations on the railway from York to London and Edinburgh as a consultation for a new East Coast Main Line franchise gets under way.

MPs and senior York councillors welcomed the proposals but also called for the railway’s headquarters, where 165 staff work, to remain in York when the new franchisee takes over at the end of next year. The Press also today writes an open letter to Rail Minister Theresa Villiers, calling for her to safeguard the city’s railway jobs.

Ms Villiers said yesterday there were “exciting changes” on the horizon for the line. “It is set to receive a brand new fleet of InterCity Express trains,” she said.

“The next franchise will be up to 12 years in length giving the operator greater opportunities to invest in improvements that will benefit passengers. The consultation outlines what we expect the next operator to deliver, including better service quality, improvements to stations, the roll out of smart-ticketing technology and good levels of punctuality.” She invited people to send in their views on what they want from the new franchise, which is scheduled to start in December 2013.

The East Coast route has been managed from offices in York under previous franchisees and in its current guise as a nationalised business.

York Outer Tory MP Julian Sturdy said yesterday he would be calling for reassurances about bidders’ commitment to keeping the HQ in York, as well as to improving the provision and quality of services.

York Central MP Hugh Bayley said in a letter to the Minister there were “good strategic reasons” to manage the franchise from York. York’s Labour council leader James Alexander said the authority would call for the jobs to be retained in York.

Tory leader Ian Gillies said York had been the appropriate location for the route’s headquarters since the days of the railway king George Hudson.

Lib Dem leader Carol Runciman also called for the headquarters to remain in York, as did Green Andy D’Agorne, who said the city had the tradition, skills and location.

An open letter from The Press to Rail Minister Theresa Villiers

Dear Minister

We thank you for going out to consultation over the new franchise for the East Coast Main Line. We are pleased you are going to seek the views of passengers, councillors and anyone else with an interest in this flagship route before the new franchisees are appointed next year.

We are also pleased with your announcement that the change will mean a new fleet of trains and improvements to stations, and we welcome the 12-year agreement that should bring stability for passengers and workers.

We write also to ask you to take heed of the calls made by MPs and councillors from across the political spectrum in York for the East Coast headquarters, and its 165-strong workforce, to remain in the city.

York is not only the HQ’s historical home but is ideally placed, in the centre of Britain and at the centre of the line between London and Edinburgh. Existing staff in York have the experience and expertise needed to make the new franchise a success, and a move elsewhere would bring considerable disruption and expense.

We fear that franchise bidders might seek to cut their costs by managing the route from offices elsewhere, and as the franchise process gathers pace, we hope you will ensure that the railway line’s HQ stays where it belongs - in this fine and historic railway city.