ALLOWING a rival train company to stop its services at York will cost GNER £5 million a year, the city-based company told rail bosses at a hearing to resolve a row over new routes.

GNER chief executive Christopher Garnett claimed, at the Office of Rail Regulation's (ORR) hearing into services on the East Coast Main Line, that fellow York rail company Grand Central wanted to stop at York Station in a bid to "abstract" business away from his company.

But Grand Central revealed that the city was a key plank of its business plan to run trains from Sunderland to London, and estimated that it was worth more than £2 million to its "revenue stream".

The hearing, the details of which have been revealed for the first time, was held on Monday, March 6. It was called after the ORR announced it was provisionally "minded" to grant Grand Central rights to run inter city services.

That would mean GNER's plans to run 12 extra trains between Leeds and London, part of its £1.3 billion franchise commitment with Government, would be rejected. At the London hearing, Mr Garnett - in an address to a panel - criticised Grand Central's plan to stop at York. "We will only lose revenue to them. We will never get revenue back," he said.

"Why stop at York? Let us remove York. Let us make York a set down only and then see what that does to the economics of their operation."

But Ian Yeowart, Grand Central managing director, said there was "quite a lot of detailed thinking" behind the plan to run services which stopped at York.

"York itself is a very important plank of the whole service provision, and York is the only place that, at the moment, we have actually got in place (the) park and ride arrangements, because we think it points a way forward."

Mr Yeowart said a focus group the company held in York revealed that more than 50 per cent of the attendees were "not aware that there was a regular service to London".

"The main reason they were not aware was because in their view, and you have had the report from the focus groups, rail was never considered because of the cost," Mr Yeowart. Grand Central claims its services to London will be cheaper.

A GNER spokesman said: "York is well served by GNER with 61 trains a day to and from London. We think the real motive from Grand Central calling at York is to abstract revenue from GNER. It would be interesting to see if Grand Central was keen to depart from Sunderland if it did not call at York."

A final decision from the ORR is expected next week.

Backing for new north-south high-speed line

YOUNGSTERS had a face-to-face meeting with a skeleton, played on a giant 'floor' piano, and found out how many colours are in brown Smarties, as part of a Discovery Day at York St John University College.

The interactive tasks, designed to teach children about science and technology, were part of a three-day free interactive exhibition which will be visited by more than 500 primary school children from across the county.

BBC TV presenter and science photographer Adam Hart Davis will be at the final Discovery Day tomorrow, which is open to the public.

Visitors will have the opportunity to get up close and personal with a bed bug, find out why bones are like chocolate and marvel at the magic of the "wibbly wobbly" egg.

Mr Hart-Davis will also present prizes to the winners of our Seeing The Wonder Of Science photography competition.

Launched at the end of last year by Science City York and the Evening Press, it has inspired hundreds of local people of all ages to create eye catching and innovative images that provide an insight into the world of science.

The competition and the discovery days are both part of the York Festival Of Science And Technology 2006, which runs until March 19.

Updated: 11:39 Friday, March 17, 2006