A York entrepreneur is behind exciting plans to introduce an HOURLY Selby-to-London train service, it was revealed today.

Renaissance Trains Ltd, headed by John Nelson and fellow director Mike Jones, are now waiting to hear from the rail regulator if their proposals have been given the green light.

Selby lost its direct link to London in September, 1983, when the East Coast Main Line had to be diverted for the Selby coalfield.

If the new multi-million-pound plans are given the go-ahead, passengers boarding at Selby would be in the capital in under two hours.

Mr Nelson, former general manager of British Rail's York-based Eastern Region, and Mr Jones, a former national business manager with BR, have made an application to Railtrack for train paths to run an hourly service between London King's Cross and Hull from next May.

The trains would call at one station between London and Doncaster, and then at Selby, Brough and Hull, a total journey of 2hrs 35 minutes. A reduced service could even be operating by October.

Renaissance plans to operate its service with a fleet of eight, three-car 100mph Turbostar trains, and says it has the financial backing of another train operating company.

Mr Jones told the Evening Press today that he did not believe the 100mph top speed would be a problem in getting suitable train paths over the already congested East Coast Main Line.

He said they planned to replace the fleet with 125mph trains in 2002 so they could keep pace with GNER's planned 140mph trains.

Renaissance has just presented its case to the Office of the Rail Regulator in London. They have been told to expect a decision within the next two weeks.

The two former BR men are challenging East Coast train operators through the Open Access (Moderation of Competition) rules, which release 20 per cent of nominated passenger flows to competition. Mr Jones added: "The services provided at present don't meet the market need. We believe there is capacity in the network and are very optimistic about our chances."

It also emerged today that GNER is "actively looking" at proposals which would provide a daily service to London from Selby. GNER is looking at diverting the Hull Executive train so it stops at Selby every day, departing at 7.36am, with the return train leaving King's Cross at 5.20pm.

Reg French, secretary of Selby Rail Users' Group, said today they had been lobbying hard for the reintroduction of a London through service, and he was thrilled with the new proposals.

He said: "Other operators are now acknowledging the importance of a fast service for business and leisure passengers from Selby."

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