Transport chiefs were made aware of Green Hammerton Parish Council's stance on the issue, described as the first steps towards a new age of the train, at a Leeds City Region rail summit.

The council is calling for double track to be restored on the route and general upgrading of facilities, including more parking.

Parish Council chairman Ian Bailes points out that all crossing barriers are manually operated.

The council also wants to see Marston Moor station reopened with potential land available for parking.

Parking at Cattal or Hammerton could be used by commuters, including those from the south around Wetherby.

The parish council’s views were presented to David Hoggarth, development director of Metro, who will provide a detailed response.

Coun Martin Leather, newly-elected councillor for the Ouseburn area, said he wholeheartedly supported the parish council views.

He appreciated there was limited parking space but believed efforts should be made to create more room for cars.

Changes could provide the potential for getting commuters out of their cars and on to trains if parking improvements were carried out.

Mr Bailes said: “There is significant food for thought here. Achieving all these improvements would require an enormous amount of co-operation between all parties involved as well as sizeable capital investment.”

If the line is upgraded one other idea suggested was providing a bus service from surrounding villages to connect with train.

Meanwhile, the parish council wants to see frequency of the service increased to half-hourly, with the last train from Harrogate leaving no earlier than 10.05pm.

The rail line was opened in 1845 and was down-sized to single track in parts about 30 years ago.