Train passengers in Denmark have voiced their opposition after Arriva was awarded a contract to run Danish train services.

Arriva - criticised for its poor record in running regional trains in North East England - won the bid to run 15% of the Danish network.

It was given the contract despite needing double the government subsidy of the state-owned company, which also bid for the franchise.

One Danish reporter said that when news of Arriva's earlier record on cancelled services and strikes became known, it led to protests in the country's newspapers, and from the public.

There was a period when people were just disgusted about it and they couldn't understand what the Ministry was thinking

Rebecca Engmann Copenhagen Post

Arriva won control of four train services in the Jutland area of Denmark and will take over in six months time.

During the bidding process, Arriva and DSB - the state-owned company - had to say how much government subsidy they would need to run the network.

DSB, which already runs the rail services, said they would need �7.2m, while Arriva said they could do it for �14m.

Rebecca Engmann, a reporter with The Copenhagen Post, said the awarding of the seven year franchise to Arriva caused a degree of scandal, but news of the company's industrial relations in England, had heightened concern.

Decision overturned

She told BBC Radio Newcastle that people were shocked when the news came out.

"The story came out in January... people were still getting over the shock of finding out that this British company was going to be operating train lines in Jutland.

"The newspapers did some digging around and found out about Arriva's track record in Great Britain and the Netherlands.

"There was a period when people were just disgusted about it and they couldn't understand what the Ministry of Traffic was thinking."

A spokesman for Arriva said: "Bids received by the Danish Government for the franchises were made from two state-owned companies DB Regio and DSB and private companies Arriva, Connex and Serco Rail.

'Major improvements'

"Reports of media concern in Denmark regarding the award of the franchise are somewhat dated, as they refer to the period when Arriva was awarded the contracts.

"Concerns expressed related to the problems which were then occuring at Arriva Trains Northern and those fears have been allayed.

"Arriva Denmark will be working to provide passengers with major improvements to comfort and convenience combined with an improved timetable."

A Danish public employees union has been granted a hearing in front of a High Court judge in September in an attempt to get the contract overturned.

Arriva already runs a proportion of Copenhagan's bus service successfully.