A PROPOSED shake-up of rail services along the East Coast has received a mixed reaction.

The Government made the announcement as it set out its strategic vision for rail across the country.

And Transport Secretary Chris Grayling confirmed further details about the new East Coast Partnership will be set out in the coming months.

The Government is in discussions with the existing operator of the East Coast franchise, Stagecoach-Virgin, to cut-short its multi-million pound deal, due to run until 2023, ahead of the proposed changes in 2020 – which a union boss branded an 'outrage'.

Making the announcement, he said: "Rail passengers deserve a more reliable, more efficient service – and I will deliver it by ending the one-size-fits-all approach of franchising and bringing closer together the best of the public and private sector."

Tees Valley Mayor, Ben Houchen, welcomed the announcement, saying: “I’ve held numerous positive discussions with the Transport Secretary and I am meeting with him again next week to discuss further improvements in our transport system.

"We have ambitious plans to transform our transport network in the area, not least our proposals for Darlington Station which is an important piece of East Coast Mainline infrastructure not just for the Tees Valley but for the wider north.”

However, the shadow Transport Minister and rail union bosses were less impressed.

Middlesbrough MP and Shadow Transport Minister Andy McDonald said: “The real issue is that the East Coast franchise has failed again and the taxpayer will bail it out.”

Speaking in the House of Commons, he added: “Markets don’t lie. The secretary of state has let Stagecoach off the hook for hundreds of millions of pounds."

RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said: “This is another outrage on the scandal-ridden East Coast where a successful public sector operation was smashed up to allow the private rail companies another run at ripping off the British people.

"The only solution to this Government-sponsored racketeering is a return to public ownership and an end to corporate welfare at the taxpayers expense.”