AN organisation working to promote rural railway services has condemned media speculation about a new round of line closures.

Several national newspapers carried reports earlier this week suggesting that the Government was preparing the ground for the biggest reductions in rail services since the Beeching cuts of 40 years ago.

Some reports listed lines which, it was claimed, were likely to be closed. These included the Settle to Carlisle, reprieved 14 years ago after a long and bitter battle against a closure threat, and the Esk Valley line between Middlesbrough and Whitby.

Reports said the cuts were being considered by Alastair Darling, the Transport Secretary, to fund a new express system connecting major cities because Government figures showed that it would be impossible to find enough money to maintain the present rail network.

But the reports were denounced by the Association of Rail-Community Partnerships, whose general manager, Dr Paul Salveson, said: "As far as we can see there is not a shred of truth in the stories. Senior representatives of the Strategic Rail Authority and the Department of Transport have reassured us that they are nonsense."

Dr Salveson said several lines suggested for closure in the reports had active community and rail partnerships which had worked with train operating companies and local authorities to boost ridership dramatically.

"Rumours about closure have the effect of demoralising people who are working hard to get more people using these lnes. The effect on the general public is even worse. Who is going to start using the railway if they are told it might soon close?"

Dr Salveson said the association was working with the SRA and Network Rail on new approaches to the operation and management of rural lines to help guarantee their future.

On the Esk Valley route the partnership was developing, with the SRA and other agencies, a ground-breaking project where the scenic line would become a test bed for a locally managed community railway.

A small dedicated team would work with local stakeholders and the body leading the initiative, the Esk Valley Railway Development Company, had appointed a project manager who would soon be in post.

Dr Salveson said: "The reality is that there are more positive developments on our rural railways than there have been for years. Let us kill these closure rumours and get on with creating vibrant, substainable branch lines which are key elements of the national rail network."