TRANSPORT chiefs in York should continue to press to bring rail stations to Haxby and Strensall, a council report argues.

Officers at City of York Council say that the authority should work to bring the long-awaited scheme to fruition - even if no government funding is available.

The report, to a meeting of the executive member for transport and advisory panel on April 7, also suggests pushing forward with other rail schemes, including the light rail project for the York Central development.

The paper, entitled Delays In Providing Additional Rail Halts In The York Area, was finished at the beginning of February, before the council received a letter from the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) suggesting that funding may be available after all.

The Haxby and Strensall scheme, which would allow commuters to travel from the busy villages to York, was first mooted in 1995 but has been beset by several delays.

Earlier this year, it appeared it had hit the buffers for good when the SRA shelved funding for new rail projects.

But, just over a week ago, the SRA appeared, in a letter to the council, to open the door to York bidding for the necessary cash to fund the much-vaunted project.

That opened up a row with Liberal Democrat leader Coun Steve Galloway, who accused the council of "spin".

The council report also reveals that funding has been allocated to a feasibility study for a station at Copmanthorpe, although officers concede this would mean "realignment" of the East Coast Main Line.

A further feasibility study is also looking at the possibility of opening three new stations on the York to Harrogate line, including one at Poppleton Park.

Coun Tracey Simpson-Laing, the council's executive member for transport, said: "This report was written before we received the letter from the SRA.

"But the report recommends that the executive member continues to keep pushing for Haxby and Strensall, as well as schemes in Copmanthorpe and for the hospital. We want to reopen these stations for the good of York residents. Now that we have this letter, the officers involved are going to be working on finalising bids to be submitted."

Updated: 08:33 Monday, March 31, 2003