COUNCIL officers have been quizzed about the continuing delay to bring rail halts to two York villages.

Members of City of York Council's Transport Scrutiny Board demanded to know when people would see new rail stations built at Haxby and Strensall.

Liberal Democrat leader Steve Galloway was asking officers why the scheme to run services from York to the two villages - in the offing for seven years - has been so difficult to develop.

"In the first instance the Tories are to blame for the ridiculous way they privatised the railways", said Coun Galloway.

"The result is that fairy-tale prices are quoted for the quite simple infrastructure alterations necessary for this scheme.

"It has been seriously suggested that a small alteration to the tracks near York station could cost over £2.5 million and a new station at Copmanthorpe £20 million."

The Lib Dems have been vocal in their criticisms over the delay of the project, which council officers hope will help encourage residents to use public transport - meaning their cars would not add to congested city centre traffic.

The group has also attacked what it calls an "erratic service" outlined in a proposed timetable, which may see as few as 28 trains a day travel on the line.

Coun Galloway said: "The interval between trains departing from York, varies from 35 to 90 minutes, with the times scattered across the clock face.

"Faced with this kind of railway roulette why should residents of Haxby and Strensall abandon their cars? If they just miss the 5.24pm they are then faced with a wait of nearly an hour-and-a-half. Whatever happened to the rush hour?"

The meeting saw a number of detailed questions both general and technical tabled. It was agreed that these will be put to rail industry representatives at the next meeting of the council's transport board.

Updated: 09:39 Wednesday, October 30, 2002