TRAIN operator GNER last night promised passengers "robust and reliable" timetables as Railtrack handed over its final repair plans for the country's railways.

Railtrack was asked by rail regulator Tom Winsor to produce plans for the train operators on how it intends to complete its recovery programme after the Hatfield crash.

Companies including GNER had complained that they were having difficulties planning services, and needed more information from Railtrack.

Although specific details were not available, Railtrack was expected to detail when and where the 40 speed restrictions on the East Coast Mainline could be lifted.

Information was also being provided on what track repair work was left to be done on the line, a key link between London and the North-East.

GNER is gearing up in the next two weekends to cope with work replacing sections of track between Newcastle and York.

It says its services are running at 85 per cent. It expects to be in line with Railtrack's aim of getting the country's railway lines back to normal by Easter.

Alan Hyde, of GNER, said: "The rail regulator is acting on behalf of the train operators who are concerned that the information they are getting from Railtrack is complete.

"We wanted to know exactly what Railtrack's recovery plan entailed and we hope to be in a position soon to be able to produce robust and reliable time tables."

The timetable for the East Coast Mainline will continue until March, said Mr Hyde.

Passengers travelling from the North-East to London can complete their journey much quicker than they could before Christmas. The fastest journey time between Darlington and Kings Cross is currently 2hrs 51 minutes.

Despite the increase in speed, British passengers have still some way to go to catch up to their French counterparts.

As new high-speed links were launched in France yesterday, it was revealed that rail passengers can travel almost as quickly, and more cheaply, from London to Marseilles as to Glasgow.

Within the next five years, French trains will be able to travel at speeds of up to 220mph, compared to Britain's fastest lines, which have a maximum speed of 125mph