And it's goodbye to National Express East Anglia...

Today's news that, in the contest for the new Greater Anglia rail franchise, National Express have failed even to make the final three contenders comes as no great surprise. Their record of axing catering facilities, customer service staff and cleaners whilst presiding over increasing shoddy rolling stock and poor punctuality was always likely to make their chances of retaining the franchise minimal.

And, ironically, they themselves had obviously begun to realise that, with extra cleaners engaged, a new breakfast service launched, and increased frequency of services turning up just as the franchise contest heated up. All too little, too late, it would seem.

A spokesperson for National Express said, "We believe we put forward a very positive and high quality submission building on the significant improvements delivered on National Express East Anglia. We are therefore seeking further clarification from the Department for Transport to explain this decision."

In the words of the East Anglian Daily Times though, "few customers will be shedding tears at the news that National Express East Anglia is to lose the franchise". And for most of us who rely on the railway to get to work, or to start the journey for a holiday, there will be keen interest on who gets to succeed them.

But that's a story for another day, I think...