ONE of the region's largest business organisations last night threw its weight behind GNER to win the East Coast Mainline rail franchise.

The North East Chamber of Commerce said most businesses in the region backed the York-based rail operator to keep the contract to run the transport link between London and Edinburgh.

The backing came after a survey of 1,800 members of the NECC confirmed that GNER was the most popular choice.

The NECC said GNER had "set the benchmark for the quality of rail service businesses expect from the East Coast Mainline rail franchise".

George Cowcher, NECC chief executive, has written a letter to Alistair Darling, Secretary of State for Transport, in which he said it would be extremely difficult for anyone to exceed the standards set by the current operator.

In the letter, he wrote: "It is paramount that the organisation that is awarded the Inter City East Coast franchise is able to support the continued economic growth of the North-East and maintain an effective rail service linking the North-East of England with London and Edinburgh."

The survey of NECC members showed that the most important issues for the region's businesses were punctuality, the ability to work on the train, restaurant and buffet facilities and car parking