RAIL passengers will be able to get picked up and dropped at their doorsteps, under radical plans for a new York to London service.

A new park & ride "station" in the city is also part of the multi-million package, which backers hope will transform travel on the East Coast Main Line and help ease congestion at York Station car park.

Under ambitious proposals tabled by Grand Central Railway Ltd, travellers would decide if they want to be driven to and from the railway station by a new traffic-busting taxi service.

Or they could leave their cars at a new park & ride site and be bussed to the busy rail hub, easing pressure on the station's congested car park.

The York-based rail firm has asked the Government for permission to run four trains a day in each direction on the East Coast Main Line, between Sunderland and London.

Rail chiefs are expected to make a decision by the end of the year, but the Evening Press understands City of York Council has backed the plans to ease congestion into the station.

If given the green light, the service - which is targeting an estimated two million new customers without a direct London link - could be up and running within 18 months.

The new link would stop at York, but would also pick up at stations not currently served by GNER, including Thirsk, Eaglescliffe, Hartlepool and Sunderland. Trains would also stop at Northallerton.

The commercial service would not stop at any stations between York and King's Cross. And Grand Central bosses today raised the prospect of 1hr 40 minute journey times, depending on talks with Network Rail.

Ian Yeowart, managing director of Grand Central, said: "We want to give passengers more choice."

He said GNER was providing a good service for York travellers, but said it was not always handy for "price conscious" customers who did not book in advance.

Outlining proposed fares, Mr Yeowart said the most expensive ticket to London would be £30 for a single and £55 return. First class fares would be double those totals, and he said passengers who did not find a seat would travel half price.

Other proposals would see a taxi-style service pick up and drop passengers at their homes.

When a ticket was booked, the passenger would give their address. If they lived within an estimated radius of nine miles from the station, they would be given the option of a lift.

The return lift - in private hire cabs or people carriers - would be booked on the train out of London.

The cost, depending on the distance, would range from about £3 to £10, although quotes would be given for people living outside the three York price zones.

The company is also in talks with the council about sites for a secure, overnight park & ride site, which would provide a direct road link to the station.

Mr Yeowart said the company had been working on the plans for one year.

"We have focused on areas that do not have rail services at the moment," he added.

"We want to be very attractive for people on price. People will not be penalised if they turn up and buy a ticket for travel on the day.

"People will not have to worry about queuing for a cab and they will not have the problem of turning up at the station and finding out the car park is full."

He said the bill for rolling stock alone would come to £30 million and new five-coach Class 222 'Meridian' trains capable of 125mph will operate the route.

Due to capacity constraints on the southern stretch of the main line, Grand Central plans to operate ten coaches from King's Cross to Doncaster. Trains would then divide, with one heading to York and Sunderland and another five coaches travelling to Halifax and Bradford Interchange.

A GNER spokesman said it offered passengers a wide variety of standard return fares, ranging from time-restricted £19 fares to open tickets of up to £149. First class return fares range from £59 to £243.

Updated: 11:50 Saturday, July 02, 2005