PROTESTORS last night warned the "gloves are off" in the battle to save rail services.

MPs and local politicians will today join representatives of the North-East Rail Passengers Committee at Darlington railway station as they step up the fight against cuts to the Tees-Tyne link.

The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) is to reduce the number of direct daily services from 19 to four from May 17 to free up capacity on the East Coast Main Line.

But they have been accused of failing to consult passengers and stakeholders over the move, which critics say fails to make sense.

The Tees Valley Partnership, which represents the interests of five local councils, is already seeking legal advice over the SRA's decision.

Councillor David Lyonette, chairman of the partnership's joint strategy committee, said the SRA had gone too far.

He said: "The gloves are off. We cannot let them get away with this kind of behaviour.

"We need an efficient and reliable transport system and yet, even though passenger numbers on local trains are growing rapidly, all we get from the SRA is cut after cut."

Those who will be at the railway station will be gathering the views of affected passengers and say they aim to make their voice heard.

Stockton South MP Dari Taylor, who with fellow Teesside MPs has lobbied Minister for Transport Tony McNulty, said the SRA was handicapping rail services.

The service reductions will mean that, in many cases, passengers wanting to travel from Saltburn, east Cleveland, to Newcastle will have to change in Darlington before continuing their journey.

The SRA has already halved the number of trains from Hartlepool to Newcastle and ended winter Sunday services on the Esk Valley line between Middlesbrough and Whitby.

* See tomorrow's Northern Echo for how you can make your protest over the cuts.