AN INFLUENTIAL rail group in North Yorkshire today attacked a new ten-year plan for the railways - claiming it was too biased towards the South.

Peter Davis, regional chairman of pressure group Railfuture, said the emphasis on London and the South East in a long-awaited rail blueprint was "disappointing".

The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) today revealed the details of its strategic plan for the future of train travel in Britain.

More than £63.5 billion will be invested in the next decade. The Government, investing £33.5 billion, hopes the plan will turn around the industry's fortunes.

Major improvements announced for North Yorkshire include two new railway stations for a regular service between Strensall, Haxby and York, and the possibility of a high- speed track for the East Coast Main Line.

But much of the investment is geared towards tackling acute overcrowding in London and the South East of England. More than 70 per cent of rail journeys start or finish in London.

Expansion plans there include an extension of the East London line, completion of the Channel Tunnel rail link and additional capacity for Chiltern, South Central and South West Trains.

"Plans for the Strensall service have to be welcome, but the report is generally disappointing," Mr Davis said.

"We haven't got very much to look forward to. I would have hoped to have seen some more investment. Now we could have to wait another ten years.

"The report seems very positive for the South, whereas we've hardly got anything. I would have thought there was a need for investment in the North."

Ernie Preston, of the Rail Passengers' Committee in York, said: "It is an interesting point that about 20 per cent of the total carriage of passengers is across the North of England.

"Disappointing though it is that there is not more for the North, this plan will unlock the flow of investment and bring about improvements we will all benefit from."

When tackled about the lack of investment in North Yorkshire, an SRA spokesman said: "Levels of overcrowding exist in the region but are not as acute as in London and the South East.

"These are critical and need to be dealt with. There are plans for the East Coast Main Line which will be delivered in the medium term."

SRA chairman Richard Bowker said: "The railway industry must urgently address the problems which face it, including the strikes which have caused such misery since the New Year.

"Nothing can be allowed to get in the way of the regeneration of our railway."

Meanwhile, a weekend report claimed German consortium Swiftrail is to table a fresh bid for Railtrack in a deal that includes compensation for shareholders.

Swiftrail's proposal would also provide a chance for the Government to buy back the company in three years, The Observer said.

The report said the offer could result in Railtrack being taken out of administration by June to help accelerate network modernisation.

Swiftrail first announced its interest in October - soon after the operation was placed in administration when the Government withdrew financial support.

Updated: 11:51 Monday, January 14, 2002