A TRAIN operator has vowed to try again after being denied permission for a new direct link between Brighouse with London.
Bosses at Grand Central lost their fight in a decision by the Office of Rail Regulation.
But at the same time they won the right to run new services linking Sunderland with London. Grand Central had fought to run direct trains from Bradford, Halifax and Brighouse to the capital.
Ian Yeowart, the company's managing director, said he would look at ways how a service could be delivered.
Bill Emery, chief executive of the Office of Rail Regulation, said: "Given the limited capacity available, we believe that our decision offers the best overall outcome."
The decision to allow Grand Central to run trains from the north-east is a blow to GNER. The East Coast Main Line operator had hoped to increase its Leeds to London services.
GNER chief executive Christopher Garnett claimed the decision was incredible and a grave error of judgement.
He said: "The decision has implications for the Government's franchising programme.
"It creates a recipe for chaos where franchise contracts, awarded in good faith after long and costly competition, then become devalued and undermined by predatory operators."
