THE race to secure the lucrative franchise for east coast rail services began in earnest yesterday with the final invitation to tender.

The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) has published the final specification for the contract to run services from the beginning of May.

Four groups have emerged as the bidders, including the existing franchise holder GNER, part of Sea Containers Limited.

Lined up against it are DSB, part of Danish Railways; First London, Scottish and North-East Railway, from the First Group; and Inter-city Railways, a consortium of Stagecoach and Virgin Group Investments.

The franchise will run for seven years, plus a further three years if performance targets are met.

The preferred bidder will be named early next year and will take over when the existing franchise runs out at the end of April.

The winner will provide passenger services between London, parts of East Anglia, the East Midlands, Yorkshire, Humberside, the North-East and Scotland, principally along the East Coast Main Line.

The SRA's managing director of operations, Nicola Shaw, said: "We look forward to their bids, sorting out in detail what they will deliver for passengers and taxpayers."