Train company Grand Central has applied to run extra routes on the East Coast mainline in a move which could hasten the calls for greater competition on the country’s railways.

Grand Central is an open access operator, which means it doesn’t run a specific franchise but rather operates trains on lines controlled by rivals. Managing director Richard McClean said his firm had applied to the Office of Rail and Road for permission to run six return services from London King’s Cross to the North East from five now.

It also wants to run six trains from West Yorkshire to the capital and five back, compared to four in each direction now.

The move comes as Virgin Trains East Coast, the joint venture between Stagecoach and Virgin Trains, is set to hand the keys to the East Coast franchise back just three years into an eight-year contract.

The company’s initial bid for the contract was based on an expectation of passenger growth which has not transpired and it has been forced to pay its fees to the Government from a so-called parent company bond, a pool of cash which ensures the Government still receives the payments due to it if a franchise is underperforming.