AN HISTORIC centre of York's railway heritage is now being used to help keep trains running on time.

Network Rail has established a firm base at the former York carriageworks site, in Holgate Park, to get its national maintenance fleet ready for action.

Twenty of its rail head treatment trains are being maintained at the site in preparation for the autumn season when they are used to help combat the problem of leaves falling on the rail network.

Trains can be delayed for hours at a time because of the seasonal difficulty.

Multi-purpose vehicles are also treated at the former Thrall works, which are used for weed spraying and de-icing on the hundreds of miles of rail track across the UK.

Network Rail bosses have signed a rolling deal to hire the site's lease from Thrall owners Trinity Rail, following months of delicate negotiations.

Dozens of workers are believed to be employed at the plant.

Rail expert John Rathmell, who worked at the former carriageworks for nearly five years, said he hoped operations on the site could be extended.

"It's obviously good news that the site is still being used by the rail industry," he said.

"I think it's a pity it can't still be used for coach production, as the industry is operating with very little stock at the moment and is having to go abroad to get them."

A spokeswoman for Network Rail said: "Network Rail has a commercial agreement with Trinity Rail Group for rail fleet stores management and distribution which is currently operated out of the former Thrall site.

"Work carried out on site includes the maintenance and preparation of our national fleet of 20 rail head treatment trains (RHTT) which are used during the autumn season to help combat the problems of leaf fall around the rail network. A number of multi purpose vehicles (MPV) are also prepared at the site to carry out autumn season rail treatment works as well as weed spraying and de-icing. The number of people employed on the site varies dependent on the number and type of trains in the yard at any given time."

Updated: 10:38 Tuesday, May 31, 2005