One of the world’s largest transport firms has lent its backing to a company which wants to bring better rail services to Selby.

Alliance Rail plans to run services between Hull and Liverpool on a two-hourly service, with the route passing through Selby.

Not only will this mean a direct service to Liverpool and Manchester Victoria for Selebians, it will also increase the frequency of the Leeds and Hull services.

Alliance Rail managing director Ian Yeowart said the plans had initially met with a little concern from the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) about whether Alliance could meet the financial commitments it would have.

That has now been solved with the involvement of Deutsche Bahn (DB). Mr Yeowart said: “The company is now part of the DB group. It means we’re in a position to say ‘we’re ready to go’, as we don’t need to go looking for further funding.”

With the financial backing of DB, Alliance Rail’s proposals, which also include running services on the West Coast Mainline and the East Coast Mainline, will be submitted to the ORR.

Mr Yeowart said the West Coast plans would go in first with the plans for the Hull-Liverpool service submitted next November.

If successful Selby would be serviced by brand new, 140mph rolling stock possibly as early as December 2014, although Mr Yeowart said that realistically it would probably be May of the following year.