A VILLAGE is being urged to support a campaign to persuade rail chiefs to allow more trains to stop at its station.

Middleton St George community partnership newsletter, which is delivered to every home, says it needs statistics to prove that more people would use the railway if there was a better service.

There have already been two telephone calls, one from a family of five, who want to use the trains. The family said Dinsdale station had been a selling point when they bought their new McLean's home. But they had had to rely on cars or buses because trains were so infrequent.

In February, resident Mr Hilton Wake wrote to Northern Spirit complaining that only 38pc of trains from Darlington and 44pc to Darlington stopped in the village.

That was despite the increasing size of the village and the fact that trains had to slow down anyway because of a sharp curve in the track.

The newsletter says: "The main thrusts of Northern Spirit's reply were that passengers already on board would prefer not to stop at Dinsdale as they wished to reach their destination more quickly - and the likely demand for more trains to stop would not justify the costs involved."

The partnership took up the battle and Mr Alan Moon wrote to the rail passengers' committee at York to complain and asked it to intervene.

He later spoke to Mr Peter Limbert, regional director for Arriva, which had by then taken over the network.

The director spoke about the shortage of train drivers, but failed to explain how that prevented more trains stopping instead of passing through Dinsdale station. He also said stopping at Dinsdale could affect timing for other trains.

"It just sounded like excuses and some of the logic seemed a bit unbelievable," Mr Moon told the D&S Times. "Train drivers have said they are willing to stop at Dinsdale, but they aren't allowed to.

"My daughter goes to Teesside university and has to hang around for hours waiting for lectures because of the train times - or we have to chauffeur her.

"Unless we can supply some positive information about an increase in customers, it is unlikely any changes will be made.

"The response will determine whether we fight on - or accept the present service. So it is important people telephone me on 01325 332508 if they want a better service."

A spokesman for Teesside airport said it had been trying for years to persuade the rail company to stop regularly at its station. There is just one obligatory halt a week.

"Better surface transport links are part of our overall plan for the airport," he added.