After the Government this week signaled its intent to put the East Coast Mainline back under public control Rail Minister Jo Johnson, writing for The Northern Echo, sets out its vision for the line.

"With unparalleled views of our incredible coastline and beautiful countryside, passing through the great Victorian stations of the North, the East Coast Main Line can feel like an institution when it comes to our national rail network.

"Yet as we strive to unlock opportunity and prosperity across the country, we know just how vital our railways are for our future.

"Providing frequent, reliable services between our cities and towns, railways are engines for economic growth, providing the connections of people and goods needed to drive prosperity.

"To realise our aspirations – boosting housing, urban regeneration, and our national productivity – our railways need to be robust and reliable, providing the very best services that passengers expect and deserve.

"With the announcement on the future of the East Coast Main Line setting out how the London and North Eastern Railway would assume control of running services, we were absolutely clear that the most important factor in this decision was passengers.

"It is important to say that we have seen huge strides made under Virgin Trains East Coast (VTEC).

"Almost £1bn has been returned to the taxpayer, and all planned infrastructure upgrades have been delivered.

"Workers in Newton Aycliffe are building the brand new, state-of-the-art intercity express trains that will deliver more spacious and comfortable services for passengers the length of the line.

"We are taking steps to introduce pioneering digital technology to cut delays, significantly improve mobile and Wi-Fi connections and maximise the number of trains running every hour.

"The result has been that 92 per cent of passengers say they are happy with their travel experience. Yet the simple fact is that VTEC overbid for the right to run the franchise.

"It has been held to its full contractual commitments and it has lost nearly £200m on the franchise. This is an opportunity to make a positive change.

"Our absolute focus is building a railway that makes journeys better for everyone, putting the needs and expectations of passengers first.

"It is a significant task to recreate a historic brand – the London and North Eastern Railway – last seen in 1948.

"Yet we are absolutely confident that it is the right decision. Re-establishing LNER is not just a nod to the past, but a move to the future, paving the way forward to building a stronger East Coast partnership.

"I can reassure everyone that there will be no impact to trains, tickets or timetables.

"Establishing LNER ensures a seamless transition, and whether you’ve just booked a journey or renewed a season ticket, all tickets will continue to be valid and all customers will be able to book their travel in the normal way.

"Creating an East Coast partnership also puts a skilled, unified team in charge of the railway, ensuring that our absolute focus is delivering further upgrades to make journeys better for passengers.

"This new operator will also put the brilliant employees of the East Coast Main Line at its heart. Their diligence and dedication has been crucial to the high levels of satisfaction we have seen.

"And I can also confirm that these changes will have no impact whatsoever on the continued employment of VTEC staff.

"The Mayor of the West Midlands, and former chief executive of John Lewis, Andy Street, will advise LNER on how to build a company in which staff are at the core of the organisation and pivotal to its success.

"At a time of change, I am confident that the London and North Eastern Railway is the chance to build a stronger, more reliable and more effective railway.

"For both passengers and employees, it will deliver continuity and confidence, ensuring the East Coast Main Line remains a vital part of our rail network, delivering better journeys for everyone."

Here is a history of the East Coast rail franchise:

April 1996: East Coast Main Line is privatised after being in public ownership since 1948. Sea Containers begins a seven-year contract to operate the franchise, operating under the brand name Great North Eastern Railway (GNER).

January 2002: GNER's contract is extended until 2005.

March 2005: GNER is awarded a contract to continue operating the franchise, due to run for another seven years.

December 2006: Sea Containers is stripped of the East Coast franchise due to financial difficulties. The Government puts the franchise up for re-tender, with GNER allowed to run trains until a new owner is found.

August 2007: Franchise is awarded to National Express, which begins operating in December 2007 under the brand name National Express East Coast (NXEC).

July 2009: NXEC is stripped of the franchise due to financial difficulties. Government announces it will nationalise the line and run the franchise through a publicly-owned company.

November 2009: Government-owned operator East Coast takes over the franchise.

March 2015: East Coast line is privatised again. Stagecoach/Virgin begins an eight-year contract to operate the franchise, under the brand name Virgin Trains East Coast (VTEC).

November 2017: Government announces VTEC contract will end in 2020 due to financial difficulties.

February 2018: Government announces VTEC contract will now end in mid-2018.

May 2018: East Coast line to be nationalised once again. Government-owned operator London & North Eastern Railway (LNER) to take over the franchise from June 24.