YORK has been down this track before, so the celebrations are inevitably muted.

No fanfare heralds the 2003 resurrection of the carriageworks. The Deputy Prime Minister is unlikely to be whisked here to share the credit, as he did when Thrall took over the site six years ago.

Perhaps that is for the best. The city, and particularly the carriageworkers themselves, have grown weary of bold, hollow promises about the future of our rail industry. Millions of pounds of public money were spent to bring an outpost of Thrall here from Chicago, but that was not enough to ensure it persevered through the bad times.

The potential new owners of the site are a different proposition. They are insiders, British rail specialists. Even their name, Holgate Rail Industries, is indicative of a commitment to York.

If the deal goes ahead, the firm will not be reliant on the vagaries of global demand for rolling stock, which ultimately killed both ABB and Thrall.

Instead it will maintain railway equipment and offer training for rail workers. With the state of the British network, there is no denying the need for both services.

A Holgate Road railway revival would be good for York. Maintenance of support vehicles might not have the glamour of coach building but, along with the rail company headquarters based here, it would confirm York's continuing status as a railway city.

The deal would also bring new jobs for our skilled rail technicians, many of whom will have worked for three or four different companies over the last turbulent decade. And it will add diversity to the York economy, helping to shield the city from future recessions.

We wish Holgate Rail Industries a speedy and safe journey to the York carriageworks.

Updated: 10:41 Thursday, September 18, 2003