THE Railway Inspectorate has assured an industry watchdog that junk on railways and trespassing are among the key issues on its agenda, following an investigation by The Northern Echo.

The North-East Rail Passenger Committee was given the promise during a meeting with Philip Purkiss, the principal inspector of railways for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Committee secretary Ernie Preston brought the matter up after we highlighted the amount of junk left by engineers on the East Coast main line.

We logged more than 140 instances between York and Newcastle of redundant material lying next to the track.

It comprised almost exclusively of lengths of steel track, but there were also concrete sleepers, bolts and other debris.

Railtrack has said it has formalised an action plan to clear scrap across the network by October. But unions and campaigners have said the work needs to be speeded up.

Mr Preston said: "The Health and Safety Executive have said they are putting pressure on Railtrack to meet their clearance targets.

"The HSE is concerned and is trying to do what it can to resolve any difficulties."

Mr Preston said the real problem was caused by trespassers and it had been suggested that police chiefs should become involved in future forum meetings between the committee and the Railway Inspectorate