Rail operator First Great Eastern is to to seek a judicial review after it was rejected as a bidder for the new Greater Anglia franchise.

Parent company FirstGroup will go to the High Court on Tuesday to ask leave to launch a review against the Strategic Rail Authority.

The SRA announced earlier this year than only Arriva, National Express and GB Railways would be allowed to bid for the new franchise which will take in all services from Liverpool Street station.

At present, First Great Eastern runs the profitable Essex commuter services from Liverpool Street, including those to Southend Victoria via Billericay and Wickford.

FirstGroup is asking for a disclosures hearing to discover how the SRA had reached its conclusion.

Published Thursday, June 12, 2003

Brought to you by the Evening Echo