Connex is in the running despite losing its franchise

Connex and First Group are the contenders bidding to take control of the trans-Pennine franchise, which is up for renewal.

The route which connects Yorkshire cities Leeds, Hull, Sheffield and York with Liverpool and Manchester, is currently operated by Arriva Trains Northern.

French-owned Connex was stripped of its South East franchise by the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) on Friday due to poor performance and financial mismanagement.

Services reorganised

A passengers' group has called on the SRA to rule the company out of the bidding.

If they can't run trains in the South, how can they be good enough to run those in the North? Peter Wood, Rail Future

Peter Wood, North East spokesman for independent passenger group Rail Future, said: "I think it's quite ridiculous that they still seem to be in the frame for the Trans-Pennine franchise.

"If they can't run trains in the South how can they be good enough to run those in the North?"

Arriva has a temporary franchise to operate the Trans-Pennine route until September 2004 when the re-organisation of rail services is due to be completed.

The winner of the new franchise will be announced later in the summer.

A spokeswoman for the SRA confirmed to the BBC that Connex was still in the running for the franchise, despite losing the right to run services in Kent and Sussex from the end of 2003.