THE race for the region's second-biggest rail franchise could be delayed yet again, it emerged last night.

An announcement on who will run the transpennine express franchise was to be made by the end of the month.

But last night, a spokesman for the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) suggested the timetable for the announcement had been extended.

He said: "It will be in the next four to eight weeks."

Any further delay is likely to anger bidders Connex and the consortium of First Group and the French group Keolis, as well as passenger watchdogs.

It will also put back the date for the start of the franchise, which is likely to be early next year.

The transpennine route links Newcastle, York and Leeds with Manchester and Liverpool, and is currently run by Arriva Trains Northern.

Peter Johnson, secretary of the Trans Pennine Local Authority Rail Group, said the SRA had a "track record of not keeping to any of its deadlines".

He said that if an announcement was not made this week before Parliament breaks for summer, it could be delayed until MPs return in September.

Speculation has mounted that Connex, which was stripped of its southern services by the SRA earlier this month for financial incompetence, is in pole position to win the franchise.

Some sources, however, suggested that following the SRA's decision on Connex, it has been forced to backtrack on a decision to award the firm the franchise for fear of anger from rail groups.