A TRAM-TRAIN network should be set up in York to link the city centre with outlying villages and the city's hospital, the Conservatives have said.

The Tories want to resurrect plans to run shuttle services from York Station to Strensall, Haxby and Wigginton and York Hospital.

They say the move would reduce congestion and pollution, and claim the key infrastructure is already in place.

Such moves have been mooted in the past, including in the Liberal Democrats' manifesto when they were elected in 2003. But the plans have never been realised.

Coun Ian Gillies, leader of the Conservative group on City of York Council, said: "There have been all sorts of reasons why we cannot do things in this organisation, but it's time we said what we can do, and what we want, especially for the people of Haxby and Wigginton, Strensall and hospital users."

Coun Gillies said simple halts, or stops, should be provided at the various locations, and the services could use the existing Scarborough train platform at York Station.

He said he had not yet explored the minutiae of the scheme, nor how much it would cost, but said he was keen to press on with exploring the viability of the scheme.

He said: "Leeds City Region has a kitty and I want us to apply for some of that money. Plus, I think central Government owes us - if they want us to get people off the roads and on to public transport, they need to help us.

"We cannot fund it from the council. We need financing from external sources, but the money is available."

Julian Sturdy, who is standing for the Conservatives in York Outer at the next general election, said: "The main infrastructure is there, in the rail line. But it's up to us to use it to the best of our ability.

"When I have been out in these communities talking to them, and through surveys we are doing, the question of improved rail transport for these communities comes up again and again."

Strensall councillor Siân Wiseman said many people in the village currently commuted to Leeds, via the busy Hopgrove roundabout. She said tram-trains could ease congestion there.


Talk of new network described as red herring'

CURRENT talk of tram-trains to York villages and the hospital is a "red herring", according to the Liberal Democrats' transport boss.

Coun Steve Galloway said: "Proposals to open new rail stations on existing lines close to York have been a feature of the council's Local Transport Plan for several years. They remain an ambition.

"The first two being considered are Haxby and Strensall. However, the construction of each new rail halt is estimated to cost at least £4 million. This is beyond the council's locally available transport budget and an application to the Regional Transport Board for funding would have to be made.

"This would put the scheme in direct competition for funds with other projects, such as improvements to the outer ring road and the Hopgrove roundabout."

He said the stations were not considered commercially viable, could not be privately financed, and would have to be subsidised because of the relatively small number of potential users.

Trials of a continental style train in South Yorkshire were ongoing, but he said: "Metro is keen to trial a tram-train on the Leeds-Harrogate-York loop, but any extension to the Scarbor-ough line is at least a decade away. The first application of any tram-train link is likely to be to service the new York Central site," he said.

But Labour gave tentative backing to the idea. Coun Ruth Potter, shadow executive member on transport issues, said: "Labour has always had the policy that this rail line should be opened up, together with the stations that previously serviced the routes.

"The Conservatives have hopped on to this train a little way down the route, but we are happy they support the idea, as it would make a significant contribution to reducing congestion and carbon emissions in the city." The council would need to work closely with the Regional Transport Board, the Govern-ment and train operators.