More trains could be accommodated at York Station under Railtrack's £27 billion upgrade of Britain's railways, it was revealed today.

John Greenway: extra trains need to be ordered

And more reliable services are promised through additional tracks and signalling alterations on the East Coast Main Line near the city.

Railtrack's ten-year investment package includes a £2.5 billion modernisation of four stations, including York, and £1 billion spending on the London to Scotland line.

Spending at York is in addition to a £1.5 billion facelift carried out in the past couple of years.

The station's car park will be enlarged and facilities developed to improve passenger access.

Railtrack's chief executive, Gerald Corbett, said: "We recognise there is still a great deal to be done."

Among improvements promised is increasing passenger train punctuality by seven-and-a-half per cent this year, followed by a five per cent improvement next year and two-and-a-half per cent the following year.

The plans, outlined in the company's 1999 Network Management Statement, are thought to be the largest upgrade of infrastructure since the railways were built.

John Greenway, Tory MP for Ryedale, said: "This announcement is very welcome because it increases the capacity of the infrastructure and of the East Coast Main Line, which would lead to having more trains.

"I think the first thing we have to do is sort out the franchises for rail companies because there is no point in waiting until the infrastructure is improved before ordering new trains.

"Now we know there is to be more capacity, extra trains need to be ordered so there is a rolling stock ready to be used."

He said the investment showed the benefits of rail privatisation because this amount could never have been found from public money.

The announcement coincides with a rail survey carried out by Liberal Democrats in the region today.

The research is intended to discover the public's opinion on the Liberal Democrats' policy of increased investment in the railways.

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