RAIL passengers could be on track for a York suburb in 2007 - more than 12 years after plans to reopen a station there were first put forward.

Transport chiefs have confirmed that Haxby station could reopen in two years' time if a suitable business case can be made.

Council officers were asked to investigate whether a new station could be built off Towthorpe Road, outside Haxby, with an integrated bus station.

But new documents revealed that reopening the former station is more economic, as a third party may meet some of the construction costs.

Furthermore, First TransPennine Express, which operates the York to Scarborough line, has "shown strong interest" in calling at the station and has drawn up a timetable.

Meanwhile, shelved plans for additional halts on the same line, at York Hospital and Strensall, have not been re-examined.

Wheldrake councillor Christian Vassie, who chairs the planning and transport scrutiny board, said the city urgently needs to find transport solutions.

He said the group will be meeting next Wednesday to discuss the progress of bringing a railway station to Haxby.

"I'm very aware of the fact that it's easy for us to sit around tables and pay lip service. Actually making things happen is much more of a challenge," he said.

A First Transpennine Express spokesman confirmed that the company, which took over the line franchise more than a year ago, had been in discussions with the council.

He said: "We've certainly been talking to the council about the possibility of calling there.

"Opening additional calling points on existing lines is more realistic economically than building new lines."

He said the company believed there was a demand from passengers who would travel in to York and then on to Leeds and Manchester, as well as people heading for the east coast.

The spokesman said that First Transpennine Express was not the "third party" offering construction funding.

He said this was more likely to be a Government regional agency.

In 2003, the Strategic Rail Authority, which has since been disbanded, told the council no cash was available for stations, but since then councillors have said funding might be found.

Other studies have looked at opening three new stations on the York to Harrogate line, including one at Poppleton Park.

Updated: 11:19 Friday, May 27, 2005