CAMPAIGNERS say they will continue to fight for a better train service for Dorset ahead of a shake-up of a rail franchise.

It comes after transport group Stagecoach failed to reach agreement with the Government over renewing the South West Trains franchise which runs commuter and mainline services from London Waterloo to the South West including the Weymouth line.

The DfT plans to invite train operating companies to bid for the franchise, which SWT has run since British Rail was privatised in 1996.

It is one of the country's biggest rail franchises, operating more than 1,600 trains a day, serving more than 200 stations and carrying over 200 million passengers a year.

The current contract is due to end in February 2017.

Stagecoach must now compete with rival transport companies when the new contract comes up for tender.

Earlier this year the company agreed a £50 million package of benefits with the government that will see additional seats, more and faster services, and better facilities on the South West Trains network – but there was no pledges of funding for the Weymouth line.

Campaigners have long pushed for faster and more efficient services from Weymouth to London to boost the economy.

Trains between Weymouth and Poole run with fewer carriages and are slower than in other areas due to power restrictions.

Calls were made in Parliament recently by South Dorset Dorset MP Richard Drax for more rail investment in the area to help boost jobs and prosperity.

Mr Drax said yesterday: "Whoever the new franchisee will be we will continue to promote and lobby for a faster train service from Weymouth to London."

Mr Drax said he hoped a 'seaside express' train could run from the capital to Weymouth taking 2 hours, reducing the running time by about 45 minutes.

A transport group has failed to reach agreement with the Government over renewing a major rail franchise which runs services from London Waterloo to the South West.

Stagecoach said the Department for Transport had ended talks over its South West Trains subsidiary - which runs commuter and other services from Waterloo to Surrey, Hampshire, Somerset, Berkshire, Devon, Wiltshire and Dorset.

The DfT plans to invite train operating companies to bid for the franchise, which SWT has run since British Rail was privatised in 1996.

It is one of the country's biggest rail franchises, operating more than 1,600 trains a day, serving more than 200 stations and carrying over 200 million passengers a year.

The company said: ''Stagecoach Group confirms that it has been notified by the Department for Transport that it is ending the discussions with Stagecoach subsidiary, Stagecoach South Western Trains Limited, regarding the direct award of a new rail franchise.

''The current franchise is due to end in February 2017 and, as previously reported, South West Trains had submitted proposals to the DfT as part of previously announced government plans for the direct award of a new franchise to at least April 2019.

''The DfT has now indicated that it plans to invite applicants to tender for a new long-term franchise to commence sometime in 2017.

''In the meantime, the DfT has indicated that it expects to exercise its pre-contracted option to extend the current South West Trains franchise beyond February 2017.

''The option allows the DfT to extend the franchise to no later than August 2017. Stagecoach does not currently expect South West Trains to earn a significant profit during any extension period.''

Stagecoach said its proposals sought to build on the ''extensive improvements'' delivered since 1996, providing ''more benefits for customers, good value for taxpayers and an appropriate return for investors''.

A statement added: ''However, despite extensive negotiations, a significant difference has remained between both parties regarding the financial evaluation of the proposals. As a result, South West Trains has been unable to reach an agreement on a direct award.

''Nevertheless, as the incumbent operator with nearly 20 years' experience in growing and improving one of the most complex and busiest rail franchises in the country, we believe we are in a strong position to submit a powerful and attractive bid for a new South West Trains franchise.

''In the meantime, we will continue to deliver on our commitments to government and customers, including the £50 million package of investment agreed with the DfT earlier this year as part of a Deed of Amendment to the existing franchise.''