PLANS have been unveiled for a massive boost to the railways across York, North and East Yorkshire.

Network Rail has published an ambitious manifesto, dubbed A Bright Future For Rail In The North, setting out its vision for the next 20 years.

It said train operators Northern and First TransPennine Express had been working alongside it on a strategy which included doubling the number of fast and “semi-fast” services between major cities and providing longer trains capable of carrying more passengers.

A spokeswoman said that by 2020, Network Rail wanted to make rail the preferred choice for commuters and businesses right across the north.

She said the region had already seen a dramatic growth in passengers in recent years – a massive 60 per cent in the nine years to 2007/08 in the Yorkshire and Humber region.

The growth was set to continue, with a predicted further 50 per cent increase in peak hour travel by 2018.

Chief executive Iain Coucher said rail played a vital role in the economy of Great Britain and the North was no different. “We have to meet the ambitions of people and businesses and give them the railway they want and deserve,” he said.

“By running more trains, more often with more seats, we want to win even more passengers from the motorways. “Big and small businesses have shown their appetite for growth in the North, and we’ve got to give them the rail links to match.”

The spokeswoman said that Network Rail would set out over the next year precisely how it intended to meet its ambitions.

“The Rail In The North study, to be published in January 2010, will set out the key infrastructure improvements Network Rail needs to put in place before 2020,” she said.

“The Northern Route Utilisation Strategy (RUS) will explain how we make the best use of the network.

“The next new lines study will look at the business case for dedicated high speed lines to Sheffield, Leeds and Newcastle.”

The spokeswoman said improvements to the rail network could bring economic benefits to the North of England in the order of between £12bn and £16bn.