A £1.5 MILLION scheme to create a first class lounge, two new shops and a new 'customer zone' at York Railway Station is about to be submitted to planners.

Virgin Trains East Coast has revealed that the zone is set to be housed in the current ladies' toilets near WHSmith and WILL now include a traditional ticket office, following protests at initial plans to dispense with staff sitting behind desks.

The Press reported earlier this year how a petition against the loss of the station's ticket office and staff had been signed by more than 2,000 people within a week of its launch.

Chris Cunningham, general manager for Virgin Trains on its east coast route, said the change was a ‘win win’ for customers, stakeholders and staff.

“We have listened to and taken on-board feedback in recent months," he said. "As a result, we will include a new modern ticket office, with our people both floor walking and sitting behind more traditional desks as part of our exciting plans to improve York station."

He said the zone would provide more opportunities for face-to-face interaction with staff, acting as a one-stop shop for inquiries, advice and ticket purchases, including through more ticket machines and hand held devices.

Mr Cunningham said there would be a 'very small' number of job losses, but these had all been achieved voluntarily and there were no compulsory redundancies.

He said a cluster of ATM cashpoint machines would be removed from the area between the ladies and WHSmith, opening up views of the platforms from the concourse, and they would be relocated to an area near Platform 3.

He said customers had been requesting a First Class lounge for many years prior to Virgin winning the franchise for the east coast route and it now planned to locate one in a little used area near Platform 3, where bins and hired bicycles were currently stored, and in offices behind. The lounge would be available to passengers from other train companies with First Class tickets.

“We’re also planning to attract two major new retailers to the station, create new and improved ladies’ loos, and create better sight lines and pedestrian flow through this fantastic gateway to the city and wider region.”

The shops, which will sell food and convenience goods, have not been identified but at other stations along the east coast route, such retailers include big names such as Marks & Spencer, Waitrose and Boots.

Mr Cunningham said an application for listed building consent for the changes to the Grade 2* listed building was about to be submitted to City of York Council.

He said that if consent was granted, the work was set to start by early summer and take place in phases, and he hoped the redevelopment would be completed by the end of 2018.

The station revamp has been welcomed as good news by York's tourism and business leaders.

Sally Greenaway, head of Visit York, said the 'substantial investment' would provide a much improved experience to everyone travelling to and from the station.

“This is very good news for tourism in York," she said. "Almost a third of visitors to the city now arrive by train and we’re fully committed to encouraging people to travel to York by train.

"New retail outlets, the First Class lounge and the Customer Zone will enhance the facilities and we’re delighted the plans will also open up the space, showcasing what a beautiful railway station York has.”

Susie Cawood, head of York & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, said it welcomed the investment, which would provide travellers with better facilities and give them a "much more appropriate first impression of our city".

She said: "We are delighted that Virgin Trains East Coast has listened to the business community and will be investing in a First Class Lounge to further improve the customer experience."