PROPOSALS for inter-city rail services from towns across the region to London have been welcomed by travellers and politicans.

Grand Central Railway Company, a York-based company, plans to launch new high-quality train services from the North-East to London.

The services would be operated on a fully commercial basis, without any Government subsidy.

More than 2,000 people have signed a petition in support of Grand Central's proposed inter-city rail service from Sunderland and Hartlepool to London.

Among those also lending their support to the proposal of four trains each way per day are Sunderland City Council, business leaders on Wearside, local MPs and the Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Authority.

Councillor Bob Symonds, leader of Sunderland City Council, said: "I am very supportive of these proposals and I would hope everybody in Sunderland would want to see Grand Central succeed."

Among MPs backing the proposals are Ashok Kumar, MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, and Ann MacIntosh, MP for Vale of York.

Grand Central submitted its formal bid to the Office of Rail Regulation for approval to operate the new passenger service last month. It aims to offer direct services from Sunderland to the capital, stopping at Hartlepool, Eaglescliffe, Northallerton, Thirsk and York

Ian Yeowart, managing director of Grand Central, said: "It is many years since major centres such as Sunderland and Hartlepool enjoyed direct inter-city rail services to the capital, so it is heartening to see the size and breadth of support for our proposed new service."