TILTING trains could run through York on Trans-Pennine routes under a plan unveiled by Sir Richard Branson's train company, Virgin Rail.

Virgin has submitted its first-stage plans in a bid to run the new 20-year Trans-Pennine franchise linking the north west of England with Yorkshire.

If successful, the company wants to introduce a new fleet of tilting and non-tilting diesel trains as well as refurbishing existing trains.

The plan also involves the improvement of existing journey times and the introduction of new services between London and key regional services.

Fran Critchley, deputy secretary of the Rail Passengers Committee for North East England, said: "Anything that improves the passengers lot, whether it's ride, punctuality or journey times, is welcome.

"But it's early days yet and there are seven other bidders to run trains across the Pennines and there are likely to be two or three short-listed around September time."

Virgin already runs the London to Scotland West Coast main line route and plans to bring in high-speed tilting trains on this route in 2002 - a move that will drastically cut journey times.

Sir Richard's company is also bidding to take over the other main London-Scotland franchise - the East Coast main line which is currently run by the York-based Great North Eastern Railway.

While GNER competes with Virgin on the East Coast line, Virgin is likely to face competition on the new transpennine route from another big transport company, Arriva.

Other bidders for the Trans-Pennine route include FirstGroup, which already runs three franchises - Great Western, North Western and Great Eastern.