A businessman from York today unveiled his vision of a train service for the new millennium.

Ian Yeowart, chief executive of new train company Grand Central, said today his revolutionary service was on track for launch next year, confirming York's place as the railway capital of England.

Mr Yeowart, who has more than two decades of senior experience in the railway industry, said his new trans-Pennine train service from Newcastle via York to Salford Central, Manchester, would be ready to roll next year.

And he has promised a service of a standard never seen before on Britain's railways.

The York-based consortium headed by Mr Yeowart claims its standard carriages would be the equivalent of most other operators' first-class service, with reclining seats and plenty of leg room.

"We have had a plan for five or six years to offer this type of luxury travel," said Mr Yeowart.

"We are still in discussions, but are confident that this will get the go-ahead, offering passengers a wonderful opportunity to travel in this fantastic, new environment."

Key features the project would offer include:

A new definition of standard and first class with on-the-move technology;

Upgraded stations

Taking drivers off the roads on to trains.

Grand Central has already heavily invested in the plans and has had detailed discussions with Railtrack and the Strategic Rail Authority.

Grand Central says it would run hourly return services from Newcastle via York and Leeds to a redeveloped Salford Central station, which it says is the most convenient location for the business quarter of Manchester.

Updated: 14:59 Thursday, April 26, 2001