PASSENGER groups have raised new fears over Strategic Rail Authority plans for a new franchise serving much of the North-East.

The Northern rail franchise includes routes such as Darlington to Bishop Auckland and Middlesbrough-Hartlepool-Sunderland-Newcastle.

It is due to begin in Autumn next year and bidders include Arriva and GB Railways.

But Brian Milnes, chairman of the Tees Valley branch of Transport 2000, said it was alarmed by a document issued by the authority.

The document, which briefs stakeholders on what to expect, says bus services may be considered "at times of weak demand".

It also describes a need to harmonise fares across the network.

Mr Milnes said: "If they are talking about 'bustitution', we would be totally opposed to that because services have already been cut to below minimum standards, especially on evenings and early morning on many routes.

"I am also worried by what they mean by harmonisation of fares because at the moment we have some very good value fares which we don't want to lose."

Amy Spenlove-Brown, a spokeswoman for the Strategic Rail Authority, admitted that bidders had been asked for costings on bus provision to see if savings could be made.

She said: "It is only an idea at this stage, a costings exercise. We will consider the responses from the bidders in terms of the financial aspect and, of course, from the stakeholder groups.

"We are asking interested parties to investigate the current fare structure and how that is affecting demand for services.

"This is to see if there are any imbalances and whether geographically some areas are more expensive than others."

Earlier this month, in its own guidance to franchise bidders, the North-East Rail Passengers Committee called for radical improvements to services and stations..