THOUSANDS of rail passengers are facing nightmare journeys if Arriva succeeds in scrapping some of its train services in favour of buses.

The North-East operator has been in discussions with regulators over plans to cut more than 1,000 of its train services per week because of a shortage of drivers.

But rail campaigners say the move would cause chaos for its passengers across the region and dent public confidence, particularly in rural areas such as Northallerton and Thirsk, in North Yorkshire.

Last night, the Stratgic Rail Authority confirmed it was considering taking enforcement action against the operator. The rail watchdog has the power to strip Arriva of its franchise or fine the company.

The operator's intentions were made public after campaign group Railfuture obtained a leaked document outlining plans to axe train services across the North and ferry some people to destinations on buses.

A final decision is expected by the end of the week.

Peter Davies, Railfuture's Yorkshire chairman, said: "We're very worried because it will dent public confidence in rail travel and a lot of people are going to be affected by the inconvenience.

"We think they should have consulted with interested parties before now and made an announcement of their intentions. People should have also been given more time to find out which of their trains have been cancelled."

According to Railfuture, services under threat include Middlesbrough to York, Newcastle to Northallerton, and Darlington to Saltburn. But the Whitby line to Middlesbrough has escaped unscathed. The new timetable could take effect as soon as Monday.

Vale of York MP Anne McIntosh has written to Arriva managing director Euan Cameron over the threat to the 7.26am service from Northallerton to Newcastle. "I am particularly alarmed at the complete withdrawal of the service at peak time at such short notice," she said.

Frances Critchley, deputy secretary of the Rail Passengers Committee in the North-East, said: "We have been adamant all along that we would like to see the effect on rural services minimised.

"I think there will be a lot of very disgruntled and disadvantaged passengers if it happens."

Arriva operates about 1,600 trains a day across the North of England, serving Newcastle, Darlington, Sunderland, Whitby, York, Durham and Middlesbrough.

Arriva said it faced an acute shortage of staff when it took over the franchise in February, 2000, and that by the end of the year, it will have recruited about 120 train drivers.

A spokeswoman said: "The company has been in discussions with the Strategic Rail Authority and with the Passenger Transport Executives with a view to temporarily modifying timetables to bring about stability for customers in the short term while the company resolves the issue of driver shortages."

But she declined to comment further until a decision had been made.

A Strategic Rail Authority spokeswomansaid it expected to take a decision on enforcement action by the end of the week. She declined to comment further