BRITAIN'S first Rail Academy is to be created in York - boosting the city's reputation as a centre of railway expertise.

The academy, to be based next to the National Railway Museum in Leeman Road, is being developed jointly by York College and the museum.

Yorkshire Forward and the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) have provided £125 million in funding.

The academy will provide training and education for rail employees and modern apprentices, but also children and adults who use the museum's education centre.

York College's Centre of Vocational Excellence (C.o.V.E) for Railway and Signalling Engineering will be incorporated into the academy.

City of York Council's Assistant Director of Economic Development, Tony Bennett, said it was important the skills needs of the railway sector had been recognised, and he believed a strengthened railway sector would be delivered for York.

Rail companies including Jarvis, Westinghouse Rail Systems, Network Rail, Corus Rail Consultancy, Atkins Rail, GNER, Virgin and NRS (National Rail Systems) are all fully supportive of the academy. York College principal Mike Galloway said the academy would play a key role in helping the rail industry train its workforce. Museum head Andrew Scott said the NRM had long been recognised as a centre of excellence for studying British railway history.

But the new partnership with York College will give the museum a proactive role in the future of the modern rail industry. He said it would also provide extended and up-to-date facilities for the growing number of students, of all ages, who visit the museum each year.

LSC North Yorkshire executive director David Harbourne said: "Given York's place at the heart of Britain's rail network, siting the Yorkshire Rail Academy here makes total sense."

Updated: 15:22 Monday, March 17, 2003