COUNCILLORS will tonight vote on whether to support a new rail college which will bring thousands of new apprenticeships to York.

The High Speed Rail College would bring up to 2,000 apprenticeships to the city if York's bid - made with the Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership - is successful.

The Press, City of York Council, Network Rail and the National Railway Museum are backing the bid to bring the new college to York Central, and train employees and engineers for the High Speed 2 railway line and other future projects.

A report submitted to the council acknowledges the support of The Press, and said there is also support from businesses and local authorities across the region, including Tata Steel, Henry Williams and Darlington Borough Council, and also quotes support for the project with input from Trevor Burton, head of Millthorpe School.

Mr Burton said: “It will mean many opportunities for the young people of York to join the nation’s push for future prosperity and bring jobs and wealth to our city.”

Adam Sinclair, chairman of City Team York said: “Anything that anchors the rail industry and its associated skills employment and future in the City of York has my unqualified backing and that of City Team York. It will also deliver focus and inspiration to thousands of young people in the coming years.”

The report asks members to consider supporting the bid, and to "delegate authority for the finalisation and submission of a response to officers, working with Network Rail as the landowners", because "it supports the potential creation of jobs and growth of one of the city’s key economic sectors".

Bidding for the new location ends next Wednesday (APR 30), and the location is expected to be announced this summer, before opening in 2017.