Train Operator Loses Bid

National Express - who run some rail services in Essex - has been told it won't be running all of them next year.

National Express, who run some train services in Essex, including the Colchester, Witham and Chelmsford to London line, has been told it hasn't made the short-list of companies bidding to run the region's routes from next year.

The operator had to give control of some of its routes to the Department of Transport in 2009, but despite bidding to continue looking after its East Anglia routes, it hasn't made it to the final selection.

A National Express spokesperson said: "We did bid, and we are disappointed we didn't get on to the short-list.''.

The other companies competing for the East Anglia contract include Dutch company Nederlandse Spoorwegen, and two transport companies already with experience of running franchises, the Go-Ahead Group and Stagecoach.

The new contract will start in early February 2012 and run for at least 17 months.

National Express East Anglian however, will still operate the c2c line through Tilbury and Southend.