A DEVELOPMENT manager has been appointed to improve part of the North-East rail network.

The Esk Valley Railway Development Company hopes Tony Smare will turn the Middlesbrough to Whitby line into a showpiece railway.

They aim to make it the first locally managed community railway, bringing jobs to Whitby and improving services.

"I am looking forward to the challenge of making real improvements to the service and the way it is operated," said Mr Smare, who previously worked for the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive and more recently the Welsh Highland Railway.

In the short term, the company wants to reinstate a daily early-morning service into Middlesbrough.

It also wants to enhance other services and employ local cleaning and maintenance staff to provide a faster and cheaper train service.

Ultimately, it hopes to manage the line and award contracts to train firms, or lease or buy its own trains.

Train operator Arriva, Network Rail, the Strategic Rail Authority and the Association of Community Rail Partnerships have all backed the pilot scheme.

It involves upgrading the infrastructure as well as increasing the number of trains.

Secretary Neil Buxton said: "We want to look at ways of bringing a stronger local focus to track, line-side and station maintenance as well as establishing a local base in Whitby from which to operate the train service.

"We also need trains which are appropriate for a line which carries substantial numbers of tourists in the summer and large numbers of schoolchildren to and from Whitby during term time."

The company is using £120,000 over two years to bring about the changes.

The project is funded by Yorkshire Forward, the Countryside Agency and local councils.