Station improvements were among the demands outlined by a York passengers' group to bidders looking to win the Northern Rail franchise.

Interested train companies will be expected to provide modern rolling stock, make provision for cycle, bus and taxi ramps and install payphones on all inter-urban trains if they want to impress the Rail Passengers' Com-mittee (RPC) for North East England.

The group, which is based in York, has issued guidance to bidders for the rail franchise, which runs services from Newcastle through York.

The 28-page document reveals that reliability and punctuality are of primary importance, with connections guaranteed for all journeys.

It records that the lineside across much of the network is "currently disfigured not only by general litter and waste but by detritus of specific railway origin".

The RPC has demanded that the lines be tidied up by Northern Rail, in co-operation with the Strategic Rail Authority, Network Rail and contractors, within the first three years of the franchise.

A number of train operators, including Arriva Trains Northern, the current operator, and First, which has won the TransPennine Express competition, are bidding for the franchise. Services are expected to begin later in 2004.

The document also stresses the importance of providing highly-trained staff to ensure that trains and stations are maintained and cleaned to an appropriate standard.

On new rolling stock, the report demands modern, appropriate stocking starting within two years of the beginning of the franchise.

Chairman Christine Knights said: "It is essential that we have investment to enhance services for the large numbers of existing passengers, and to attract more people to rail travel. People in the North are relying on the new franchisee to provide rail services that meet their needs."

Updated: 09:52 Saturday, September 06, 2003