RAIL users are appealing to Transport Secretary Stephen Byers to intervene over the axing of train service on the MP's doorstep.

Passenger watchdog Transport 2000 is furious at the two-week cancellation of trains between Middlesbrough, Hartlepool, Sunderland and Newcastle from last weekend so a Sunderland to Newcastle link could be installed on the Tyne and Wear Metro.

North Tyneside MP Mr Byers, who has challenged passengers to judge Government promises of delivering rail service improvements at the next General Election, is to be pressed to ask serious questions of rail operator Arriva and Metro transport group Nexus.

Brian Milnes, chairman of Transport 2000, Teesside, said: "It is scandalous that the people of Hartlepool and Teesside are being denied a train service for a local improvement on the Tyne Wear Metro, which will not benefit them in the slightest.''

Mr Milnes said no warning was given of the plans either in the latest timetables or notices on station platforms. Nor was it mentioned, he said, at a meeting between a local rail users' group and Arriva, in Hartlepool, a fortnight ago.

"I can't imagine a rail network being closed down for two weeks anywhere else in Europe, other than perhaps in Albania," said Mr Milnes. "This is the second major disruption in 14 months, the last excuse being a landslip.''

He said there was no reason why Arriva could not run a service between Middlesbrough, Stockton, Hartlepool and Seaham, from where buses could take passengers to Sunderland.

An Arriva statement said: "We apologise to our customers for any inconvenience caused by the temporary suspension of our Newcastle to Middlesbrough service while this work is carried out by Railtrack.

"As a result of the infrastructure commissioning work, we will not be able to run any trains in or out of Sunderland station.''

Mr Milnes said: "They did not consider this earlier or plan it properly. It is scandalous and we are writing to Mr Byers about it.''