THE Government last night signalled a get tough approach with train companies as it announced a major shake-up of the railways.

Officials pledged to do everything possible to build a better service for hard-press passengers fed up with dirty, unreliable trains.

Transport Secretary Alistair Darling unveiled plans to scrap the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) with the Government taking charge of overall railway strategy.

Penalty regimes for fining train companies would be simplified and bidders for future rail franchises will have to meet tough new performance targets.

In his rail review White Paper, Mr Darling said the number of rail franchises would be reduced and the whole structure of the railway simplified with one tier effectively being removed.

The Department for Transport will now be responsible for awarding franchises, while Network Rail - currently responsible for tracks and stations - will also take on responsibility for setting train timetables.

The new more "joined up" railway structure was welcomed by passenger groups, while train operators claimed they had nothing to fear.

Mr Darling also announced that responsibility for rail safety would move from the Health and Safety Executive's Railway Inspectorate to the Office of Rail Regulation - removing another body involved in the running of the railways.

He said: ''The proposals I am announcing streamline the structure of the organisation of railway, provide a single point of accountability for performance, allow closer working between track and train and provide for greater local and devolved decision making.

"Too often under the present system companies have been able to pass the buck for poor performance. This streamlining will benefit passengers."

Last night John Gelson, a spokesman for GNER, which operates the East Coast main line, said: "We are studying carefully the detail in the White Paper, but we think we have nothing to fear from this - quite the reverse.

"We have a strong record over the eight years we have been running East Coast and are particularly pleased that Mr Darling has indicated that past performance will be taken into account in the awarding of future franchises."

Vernon Barker, managing director of TransPennine Express, said: "We welcome the greater simplicity and clarity the new structure outlined in today's rail review will bring."

Fran Critchley, deputy secretary of the North-East Rail Passengers Committee, said passengers were fed up with a "second class railway".

She added: "These proposals are pretty radical and we can be quite optimistic that they will help bring about a change and the improvements needed.

"However judgement will have to be reserved until it becomes clear that their main priorities - trains that run on time and are value for money - are being delivered."

Primary legislation will be needed to cover some of the alterations announced in the White Paper.

Meanwhile, the SRA is expected to carry on until the end of the year.

* The region may get more say in the running of its railways as a result of the White Paper.

Should voters in the North-East and Yorkshire back plans for regional assemblies, they would be given money to spend on improving services.

Mr Darling said the White Paper also indicated support for community railway lines - such as the newly re-opened Weardale Railway.