IT'S full-steam ahead for developments in the North-East rail network during the next decade.

The region is to be at the vanguard of the first real rail revival since the Beeching axe fell during the 1960s.

New stations are to be added on existing lines, mothballed lines are to be revived and stations already in use are to undergo a refurbishsment under a wishlist outlined recently.

Representatives of the Strategic Rail Authority, the Government's new rail overseer, spoke of their proposals for the future at a seminar at County Hall, Durham.

They were joined on the speakers' platform by representatives from the rail industry, including Great North Eastern Railway (GNER), the Association of Community Rail Partnerships and Durham County Council's public transport business manager, Doug Hamilton.

Plans which are at various stages in the rail pipeline include:

* Revival of the Leamside Line, mothballed for the past 12 years, linking the East Coast main line to the Newcastle to Sunderland line, at Pelaw, taking in new stations at Ferryhill, Belmont, Fence Houses and Washington.

* Enhancement of the North-East Coast Line, with new stations planned for Ryhope, Easington, Hart and Billingham, and an upgrade for Seaham station.

* Major improvements to Durham and Chester-le-Street stations on the East Coast Main Line and a proposed regional freight interchange at Tursdale, near the A1(M) road interchange at Bowburn, near Durham City.

* Enhancement of stations and the trackside along the Heritage Line, from Darlington to Bishop Auckland, County Durham, with a proposed revival of the mothballed Weardale Line.

Durham County Council leader Ken Manton said the developments would benefit both passengers and the North-East economy.

"There is a great deal of scope for both passengers and freight, and part of the objectives of the event was to put pressure on relevant organisations, such as the Strategic Rail Authority and GNER, to see these things through," he said.

"I am confident that, by the end of this decade, a number of things that were outlined will be in place."