AN MP has launched a campaign calling for faster rail links to a North-East town, and the addition of direct routes to London.

Andy McDonald, Labour MP for Middlesbrough, got involved in the issue after the Government's recent confirmation that it is to re-privatise the East Coast Main Line which connects the region to London.

However Middlesbrough no longer has a fast link to the main line and Mr McDonald has invited bidders for the contract to meet him for talks.

He has also launched a petition and arranged a meeting with the Railways Minister, Stephen Hammond.

The East Coast Main Line has been under public ownership since National Express gave up the franchise in 2009. However it is now operating at a surplus of £16m and the Government has invited bids from transport operators.

Mr McDonald has already spoken to one potential bidder, Stagecoach/Virgin and has also been in touch with other likely buyers, Keolis/Eurostar and First Group.

He said he has had positive feedback from all three on the idea of re-introducing a direct high speed service direct from Middlesbrough to London.

The new route would almost certainly involve the rail line from Middlesbrough to Northallerton being upgraded. Currently passengers from Teesside must travel to Darlington or Eaglescliffe, near Stockton, to get a direct journey to London.

Mr McDonald said: “I am confident of support from the local business community from the initial soundings I have taken and will now build momentum among the public of Middlesbrough and across Teesside in support of my campaign.

“In a modern, successful country like ours it is simply unacceptable that London receives 545 times more per head of population on transport spending than we do in the North-East.”

Mr McDonald’s campaign follows on from an intervention earlier this month from Ian Swales, Liberal Democrat MP for Redcar. Mr Swales criticised the Government’s £46.2bn scheme to build the new HS2 high speed railway on the western side of the country, arguing it did little to help the North-East. Instead he backed an alternative plan to improve rail connections across the north of England and Scotland.

Tenders to run the East Coast Main Line must be filed with the Department of Transport by June. However railway unions, who argue proper procedures have not been followed, are fighting the privatisation in the courts.