RAIL passengers are to get a chance to try out a new train at the National Railway Museum in York this week.

TransPennine Express will be showing off a full-scale, 23-metre model of its new Desiro coach - due to replace the operator's existing fleet in 2006.

The train model has been brought over from Germany and engineers will assemble it on-site at the museum as part of the Railfest celebrations.

Vernon Barker, managing director of TransPennine Express, said: "You can climb aboard, try the seats, see the clean, bright, spacious interiors and get a good idea of what the trains will be like - even before the first one has been built.

"These trains will be truly inter-city quality and absolutely ideal for the fast, frequent, comfortable service we will be operating across the Pennines.

"This is a great chance for us to find out what passengers think of our plans for the future."

Members of the public will be asked to fill out a questionnaire giving their views on the new train, and will also be able to make comments in a visitors' book.

TransPennine Express, run by First Group plc in partnership with Keolis SA, has ordered 51 of the Class 185 diesel trains, worth £250 million, from manufacturer Siemens.

The 100mph trains, the fourth new fleet First Group has introduced to its rail businesses since privatisation, include air conditioning and on-board security cameras.

TransPennine Express says the new trains will enable the operator to deliver a more frequent service between its major destinations, shorter journey times, more seats and improved punctuality.

The rail operator, which is also sponsoring the Best Community Project category in the Evening Press York Community Pride awards, operates inter-city services across the North of England, from Newcastle to Liverpool.

The model train coach will be open to the public in the Great Hall of the National Railway Museum tomorrow.

Updated: 08:25 Tuesday, June 01, 2004