A company bidding for new rail routes linking Sussex to East Anglia and the Midlands says it would reduce travel times and make journeys more comfortable.
CapitalTrains is one of five companies hoping to take on the routes.
The new franchise will take in the cross London route between Brighton and Bedford, including the new Eurostar terminal at St Pancras, and the Great Northern links out of London to East Anglia and north to Peterborough.
CapitalTrains is promising modern trains and more direct train services between major towns and cities within the new operating area.
The other rail companies in the running are the National Express Group, which already runs the Gatwick Express, First Group, Stagecoach and MTR/John Laing.
The winning bidder will take over from April 2006, when the Thameslink franchise runs out, but there is an option to continue through to the Olympic year of 2012 if targets are met.
Wednesday, August 10 2005
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