TRAINS firm Arriva will deal a heavy blow to York's railway pride if it wins back its TransPennine franchise, the Evening Press has learned.

Managing director Euan Cameron admitted today that if the company is successful in its eight-year franchise bid in June, it will move its TransPennine Express headquarters from York to Leeds.

But it is understood that up to 300 administrative, station and clerical staff in York could be affected by the developments.

Arriva Trains Northern (ATN) has its rail headquarters in York, running regional and TransPennine Express services.

The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) has determined to split those services into two separate rail networks - Northern and TransPennine Express.

The move to Leeds would have little effect on passengers. But news of a rail operator pulling a major project out of York is a real blow to the rail city.

Mr Cameron said ATN would keep the Northern operation in York, if it was awarded the franchise by the SRA next year.

But with the future of that bid still very much in the balance, York could realistically be left without a major voice in regional rail travel.

Mr Cameron said: "We hope to win both franchises and have one headquarters in York and one in Leeds.

"We would leave the Northern franchise in York. The vast majority of York staff work on the Northern franchise.

"The TransPennine Express is a different franchise, and we would need everyone there (at Leeds) to run it."

Roland Harris, chief executive of the North Yorkshire and York Chamber of Commerce, said: "It would be very sad to see any removal of rail responsibility from this area."

Mark Russell, secretary of the York branch of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union, which represents many Arriva administrative staff, added: "In a city which has little work opportunities as it is, giving anything away is a bad thing to do."

Stan Herschel, York RMT regional organiser, added: "Arriva has no clear-cut strategy. This is another example of the way they stumble through."

Ernie Preston, of the York-based Rail Passengers' Committee, said: "I can see that this would be a blow to York's status, but I can't see how the location of the headquarters would have an effect on passengers."

Updated: 11:44 Thursday, April 04, 2002