CAMPAIGNERS fighting proposals to cut through-train services in the North-East have extended the battle to the national arena.

They have also warned that if passengers are forced to change trains many may simply start to use alternative transport, in particular their cars.

Christine Knights, chairwoman of the Rail Passengers Committee for North-East, based in York, said the plans by the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) would affect the willingness of people to travel by train.

The authority wants to reduce the number of daily through-trains linking Saltburn, in east Cleveland, with Newcastle from 19 to four in an attempt to ease congestion on the East Coast Main Line.

They plan to introduce the cuts from Sunday, but following a public outcry they have promised to consider any alternative proposals.

In a letter to Rail magazine Ms Knights says: "While we all support the SRA's campaign to drive up performance on the network, as the passengers' representatives we are concerned that this is being pursued without broader consideration to the benefits of through travel.

"Although a change of trains may not necessarily incur extra journey time according to timetabled services, it is a more complicated and inconvenient journey for the passenger.

"There is plentiful evidence to show that passengers prefer direct services, the big issue being the reliability of the connection."

She adds: "The movement towards changing trains could have a detrimental effect on the current healthy growth in rail travel.

"An obvious consequence is likely to be more people driving to the nearest main line station, or even once in their cars, not bothering to get on the train at all and driving to their destination.

"Such an increase in car usage would, of course, be contrary to the Government's stated aim of reducing CO2 emissions."