A CLEVELAND MP has slammed the potential axing of almost the entire direct rail service between Saltburn, Middlesbrough and Newcastle.

Dr Ashok Kumar, MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, is angry that the Strategic Rail Authority is considering cutting the number of direct Arriva trains from Saltburn to Newcastle from 18 per day to just three.

He said: "This move is scandalous and cannot be allowed to happen.

"Our Government is trying to reduce car use and improve our railways, but moves like this just run totally counter to this aim."

He added: "This service is important not just to my constituents in East Cleveland, but to the whole of Teesside. It provides the only fast, direct rail link between Middlesbrough, Durham and Newcastle - the three most important towns in the region.

"The end of this service, if it is allowed, will just mean more cars using the already congested A1 and A19."

Dr Kumar said he would be writing to transport ministers to demand that they look again at the proposal and put pressure on the SRA to reconsider.

A spokeswoman for the SRA told the D&S Times: "It is something that we are looking to do for the next timetable.

"The main reason behind it is the Virgin cross-country timetable, which we are looking to service but is not working as well as we want it to."

Consultation with passenger groups and local authorities about the plans would begin at the end of October.

The spokeswoman added: "Obviously there are some other services affecting the direct route. It might mean people would have to change at Darlington."

The SRA confirmed this week that it had received four bids for the new Northern Rail franchise, which will incorporate rural and urban services throughout the whole of the North of England currently operated by Arriva Trains Northern and First North Western.

The SRA is evaluating the bids from Arriva Trains, Serco Rail/Netherlands Railways, FirstGroup plc and Eurailco UK. It expects to announce a preferred bidder next spring and for the franchise to start the following autumn.