FURIOUS York cabbies claim their lives could be endangered by new smart dress rules for drivers serving the city's railway station - because the regulation ties could be used to strangle them.

Drivers wanting to renew their £428-a-year station rank permits must now agree to wear a collar and tie, trousers and shoes, during the winter months.

Station Taxis, who issue the permits, has agreed the move with GNER.

In a compromise move, the train operator has agreed to allow drivers to wear special blue or white polo shirts from today until September.

In 1997, the Evening Press reported a major dispute between cabbies and GNER over attempts to force them to wear a collar and tie.

Drivers staged a boycott of the rank inside the station until GNER backed down.

Alan Rowley, secretary of the York Taxi Owners and Drivers Federation, said the ties could be used to strangle them.

"It could be very dangerous," he said.

"Hackney drivers are exempt from wearing seat belts because they could be used to choke drivers - what's the difference with ties? We're being held to ransom."

Tony Miller, an independent driver who has a station permit, said: "I think GNER should get the trains running on time and keeping them clean before they start going on at us. Even clip-on ties could put our lives in danger."

But Ian Gillies, vice-chairman of Station Taxis, said they had been forced to agree to the dress code or risk GNER adopting another private firm to issue the permits.

"Any driver who wants to go into the station must now adopt the dress code," he said.

"If not they can go onto other ranks. Nobody likes change, but that is the reality.

"York is a tourist city and we're often the first people visitors meet.

"If there's a dress code it gives a good impression and raises standards.

"I agree with GNER that standards could be improved, although I'm not saying drivers are scruffy."

A spokesman for GNER said: "This is all about making sure our customers enjoy a consistently good service from door to door.

"The dress code is being rolled out at all our major stations along the East Coast Main Line.

"We realise this is a change from the past but we're trying to modernise without being too demanding or restrictive.

"If there is a smart dress code it will bring the taxi service up to standard."

Updated: 11:05 Thursday, May 01, 2003