Glagow rail passengers will welcome the new East Coast Main Line (ECML) timetable unveiled today, Tom Harris said today

The Glasgow South MP had lobbied ministers heavily after media speculation that Glasgow could be removed altogether from the new timetable, due to be introduced in May 2011.

"I vetoed a proposal in 2007 to remove Glasgow-to-Edinburgh services from the franchise.  When National Express handed back their franchise too I knew there would be a real threat to those services again and I told Andrew Adonis, the Transport Secretary, of my concerns.

"He has done a tremendous job in developing the new franchise pattern.  Glasgow, despite expectations, remains part of the ECML network, and passengers from Glasgow will enjoy significantly improved services direct to Sheffield and Leeds - two popular destinations which currently have poor connections with Glasgow."

Tom said that the ending of most direct services between Glasgow and London King's Cross would have very little impact on Glasgow, since the vast majority of passengers already use the upgraded - and much faster - West Coast Main Line services.

"Today's announcement will come as a relief to those who believed the scare stories about ECML services from Glasgow being scrapped.  It's clear that from next year, Scotland's greatest city will enjoy better rail links than ever before."