LOCAL authority transport planners and rail passenger campaigners have called for direct train links between Teesside and Tyneside to be reinstated immediately.

A decision taken by the Strategic Rail Authority in May to axe 15 of the 19 daily direct trains from Saltburn to Newcastle caused a public outcry.

Local authorities in the Tees Valley were also furious that they had not been consulted about the changes, which the SRA claimed were necessary to ease congestion on the East Coast main line.

A meeting in Darlington on Tuesday of last week brought fresh hope that the SRA may be ready to reconsider its decision.

A spokeswoman for the North-East Rail Passengers Committee said: "Following pressure from local authorities, the consultation process was opened and each authority in the area has responded. We are pushing for direct services to be reinstated as soon as possible."

Representatives at the meeting also discussed whether an opportunity might exist in the longer term to provide Stockton and Hartlepool with high quality main line rail services to York and beyond.

RPC chairman Christine Knights said: "Given the will, there is no reason whatsoever why the people of Teesside and Tyneside should not benefit from these improvements.

"In the North-East, where car ownership is relatively low compared with other parts of the country, the need for improved and expanded rail services is ever more pressing."

A decision by the SRA as to whether or not improvements will be made is expected by the end of next month.