▁open ▁access ▁services ▁between ▁W re x ham ▁and ▁London ▁Mary le bone . ▁ ▁In ▁June ▁ 2 0 0 8 , ▁the ▁G at wick ▁Express ▁franch ise ▁was ▁integrated ▁with ▁the ▁South ▁Central ▁franch ise ▁operated ▁by ▁Southern . ▁▁ 2 0 0 9 ▁The ▁government ▁announced ▁that ▁National ▁Express ▁East ▁Coast ▁would ▁have ▁their ▁franch ise ▁to ▁operate ▁inter city ▁services ▁along ▁the ▁EC ML ▁terminated , ▁with ▁the ▁franch ise ▁passing ▁into ▁the ▁hands ▁of ▁public ▁sector ▁company ▁Direct ly ▁Oper ated ▁Rail ways , ▁which ▁acted ▁as ▁the ▁parent ▁for ▁East ▁Coast . ▁▁ 2 0 1 0 ▁Grand ▁Central ▁open - access ▁services ▁from ▁London ▁to ▁Brad ford ▁began ▁on ▁ 2 3 ▁May ▁ 2 0 1 0 . ▁▁ 2 0 1 1 – 2 0 1 5 ▁▁ 2 0 1 1 ▁O wing ▁to ▁continu ing ▁losses , ▁W re x ham ▁& ▁Sh ro pshire ▁ceased ▁operating ▁on ▁ 2 8 ▁January ▁ 2 0 1 1 . ▁▁ 2 0 1 2 ▁Ab elli o ▁Gre ater ▁Ang lia ▁began ▁operating ▁the ▁Gre ater ▁Ang lia ▁franch ise ▁on ▁ 5 ▁February ▁ 2 0 1 2 . ▁ ▁In ▁September ▁ 2 0 1 2 , ▁First Group ▁was ▁awarded ▁the ▁right ▁to ▁operate ▁the ▁West ▁Coast ▁franch ise ▁which ▁prov oked ▁a ▁back l ash ▁from ▁inc umb ent ▁Virgin ▁Tra ins . ▁As ▁a ▁result ▁of ▁the ▁Department ▁for ▁Transport ▁having ▁provided ▁incorrect ▁information ▁during ▁the ▁bid