Arriva, submitted its bid for the InterCity East Coast rail franchise to the Department for Transport on 6 June 2007.

David Martin, chief executive of Arriva plc, said: "We have consulted with stakeholders and customers, and worked hard to develop proposals that will provide high quality services for all InterCity East Coast customers. Combined with our experience as a leading European rail operator, we are confident our plans can establish the InterCity East Coast franchise beyond doubt as the UK’s premier train service."

Outside the UK, Arriva is the top-performing rail operator in Denmark, one of the fastest-growing rail operators in the large German market, and has recently introduced new trains and more frequent services to meet rising passenger numbers in the Netherlands. Later this month the company will start rail services in southern Sweden. In the UK, Arriva Trains Wales has recently delivered strong improvements in operational performance, with more than 90 per cent of trains arriving on time.

The InterCity East Coast franchise is one of the UK’s busiest long distance rail routes linking London with several cities in both England and Scotland, including York, Leeds, Newcastle and Edinburgh.

Arriva submitted its bid for the seven year and four month franchise based on a specification set by the Department for Transport (DfT). The DfT is expected to announce which operator has won the franchise in the late summer.