First Great Eastern brings 50,000 commuters into London every day.

The Greater Anglia Franchise will take in the services currently run by Anglia Railways, Great Eastern, and WAGN.

The decision by the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) means that from 2004 FirstGroup will no longer run the Great Eastern rail routes in Essex and Suffolk.

SRA said FirstGroup had been left off the franchise's shortlist because its bid had not been as good as those submitted by Arriva Trains, GB Railways and National Express.

The decision upset FirstGroup, which has been running bus services in Essex, Norfolk and Northamptonshire and Essex rail commuter services for six years.

Commuter support

Apart from the disruption caused by the Hatfield disaster, commuter groups say the service is good, and have rallied around the company.

Derek Monnery, of the North Essex Rail Users group, told BBC Look East: "I feel that FirstGroup have performed well over the franchise; they at least deserve to be shortlisted.

"They have been punctual and reliable on the whole, and most of the delays, where they have occurred, have not been due to them."

The Strategic Rail Authority said it would defend any legal action robustly.

The winner of the Greater Anglia franchise is expected to be announced next spring.