PROPOSALS to cut maintenance on branch rail lines have sparked anger among some rail campaigners, but the Esk Valley Railway says the plans could have a positive affect.

The Strategic Rail Authority has published a consultation paper which puts forward proposals for prioritising maintenance and services on the busier commuter routes at the expense of the less used rural lines.

These proposals could, if approved, lead to track renewal on rural, freight and other secondary lines being halved and journey times delayed.

But the proposals have caused anger among some unions and passenger groups, which fear it could lead to the running down of services.

Rail Maritime and Transport union general secretary Bob Crow has condemned the proposals: "This is not efficiency, it is planned neglect and the SRA is proving once more that it has no strategy at all, except to cut, cut and cut again."

But Neil Buxton, secretary of the Esk Valley Railway Development Company, which runs the Middlesbrough to Whitby rail service, says the proposals may open up the debate and lead to new ways of running rural lines.

"This is only a business proposal that has been put forward, they're not saying they're going to do it, they want to see if it will help or hinder the railways.

"At the moment, the Government is holding the purse strings and the SRA is doing what it can with what money it has got.

"I think this could give us the opportunity to look at other ways of running rural lines. I feel quite positive about it in a way, because it will speed up the process of looking at other ways of running local lines, creating more local management, local control over the infrastructure."

At present, the Middlesbrough to Whitby line is operated by Arriva Trains Northern, with four trains a day in each direction, through one of the most picturesque routes in the country, taking in the Esk Valley and North York Moors National Park.

Mr Buxton explained that the development company hoped in the long run to be in control of its own infrastructure and maintenance to provide services people need and run a community railway.

It is currently running party trains, with live music and a bar, on Friday evenings throughout the summer to help offset the cost of an extra train during the holiday period.

Sixty-five extra people took the train on Friday night. "It's been an enormous success," he said. "We want to show people travelling by train is fun."