THE company behind a controversial new train washing depot has pledged to set up a 24-hour helpline for York residents.

Siemens says the telephone helpline will allow residents living near to the Leeman Road site to contact the company with "any issues" they may have before work begins on building the new depot.

The company was talking after its plan to install the depot on rail sites behind nearby homes was approved by City of York Councillors last week.

Siemens chiefs had urged the council to accept its plan, which was modified to reduce residents' noise fears, or see it built under permitted development rights.

The depot, which will be used to wash and refuel TransPennine Express trains, will bring about 40 rail jobs to the city.

Siemens' plans produced a volley of complaints from residents in the Leeman Road area who are worried about the impact the site, which will run primarily at night, will have on their lives.

But the multi-national firm today said it saw the approval of its planning application as the start of a "long-term relationship with the local community".

A spokeswoman said: "While we are obviously pleased with the planning decision to allow the regeneration of the Leeman Road site, Siemens sees this as the start of a long-term relationship with the local community and would like to be able to continue our dialogue with them in the future.

"Before we start work on site we will be setting up a 24-hour telephone helpline for the local community to contact us with any issues they may have during the build and ongoing operation of the Depot.

"City of York Council will also be reviewing noise levels on site to ensure they do not exceed predicted levels."

Details of the helpline number will be made available at a later date. Residents greeted the decision to give the depot the go-ahead with dismay.

When built, the depot will operate seven days a week from 8pm until 5am.

The depot will clean and maintain TransPennine's existing fleet but is to be designed to cater for the company's new multi-million pound Desiro train, set to come into service towards the end of next year.

Updated: 09:39 Monday, May 02, 2005