RAIL chiefs have performed an apparent U-turn over plans to pull the plug on a North-East train service, it was claimed yesterday.

The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) said it will continue to fund the four trains a day Whitby to Middlesbrough Sunday winter service under its rail passenger partnership scheme, allowing it to run until next May.

It then intends to carry out a review of the service before the winter 2004/5 timetable begins, in September.

Passenger groups said the SRA had backtracked, having initially been "adamant" that it would not be continuing the service beyond May.

Ernie Preston, secretary of the North-East Rail Passengers' Committee, said: "The SRA met with us at our offices in York on September 17 and was adamant there was no financial case for continuing to support the service beyond this winter.

"Then, having seen our draft press release concerning the proposed service cuts, they asked that Whitby to Middlesbrough was not mentioned as the matter had not yet been finalised."

Passenger groups had already been enraged by SRA plans to axe services between Middlesbrough and Newcastle and Newcastle and Hartlepool, and complained of a lack of consultation.

Brian Milnes, chairman of the Tees Valley branch of Transport 2000, said: "The Whitby to Middlesbrough Sunday winter service has not been given a proper chance.

"Last winter, there were no trains running anyway for months on a Sunday because of maintenance, so how did they expect to attract people back after that?"

SRA spokeswoman Amy Spenlove-Brown described the service as "experimental".

She said: "It was coming up for a natural review next year anyway and we want to see if it is being well-used."