(05 Mar 2015, 4:23 pm)citaro5284 wrote They have just been knocked back on their North Western proposal they had...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alliance_Rail_Holdings
Based upon that, I reckon the Edinburgh/Newcastle/London will probably get knocked back for similar reasons. The proposal could be tweaked, for example, starting the service at Hexham or, if the Blyth and Tyne line is ever brought back into passenger use, from Ashington. As there are currently no direct services to London from these areas, would this present a more viable case? (I realise it may be uneconomical to run, more that there's no incumbent)