Commuters from Southend, and the north of the county using the rail route to Liverpool Street,will see their services taken over by new operators next year.

FirstGroup, the company which operates the Great Eastern franchise from the London terminus has withdrawn its legal challenge against the Strategic Rail Authority.

The major bus and train operator was furious it had been excluded from the shortlist to operate the new Greater Anglia franchise, which will incorporate all services from Liverpool Street, currently operated by Great Eastern, West Anglia Great Horthern and Anglia Railways.

FirstGroup was expected to be one of the favourites for the new franchise but the SRA ruled only National Express, Arriva and GB Railways would be able to bid.

Last week, the High Court ruled that FirstGroup could see the scoring system which led to it being excluded from the franchise and further explanations it had received from the SRA.

A statement issued by Frist Group today said: "These have allowed us to understand the reasoning behind the SRA's decision to exclude us.

"We are still clearly disappointed that, as the best performing operator in east Anglia delivering the best value for money for the taxpayer, we have not been given an opportunity to bid.

"However, we have decided it is not in our interests to proceed any further with our legal challenge and, accordingly, we have withdrawn."

Published Monday, June 30, 2003

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