RAILWAY routes in North and East Yorkshire closed since the days of Dr Beeching should be reopened, a new report claims today.

Passenger services could be reintroduced on a host of regional railways, including the Malton to Pickering, Harrogate to Ripon and York to Beverley lines, argues a detailed survey by the Countryside Agency.

The report, launched today in Leeds, reveals that many of the region's disused railways, closed by Beeching 40 years ago, could be reopened to play an important role in an expanded rail network.

It examined all the rail lines closed in North and East Yorkshire since 1948 and concluded there were strong cases for many to be re-established.

Preparatory work is already under way on the Malton to Pickering line, but the report argues that detailed passenger and freight demand studies should also go ahead on York to Hull, taking in Beverley and Market Weighton, as well as Harrogate to Ripon.

Report author Dr Paul Salveson, of the Transport Research and Information Network (TR&IN), said: "Railway reopenings should be part of a long-term strategy for regional development.

"If lines such as York to Beverley and Leeds to Wetherby had survived, today they would be thriving regional arteries."

On York to Beverley, the report states that a reopened line could play a major role in linking towns and could reduce serious congestion on the A1079.

Reopening Malton to Whitby would be "the first step in allowing through running of train services to York and beyond".

David Farnaroff, of the Countryside Agency, said: "We are looking to the long term. We want to make sure that disused railways are protected from development which would make it harder to bring them back into use.

"We also want more detailed feasibility studies on particular routes."

Philip Taylor, of the Minsters' Railway Campaign, said: "I am delighted that the report recognises the long-term value of the York to Beverley route as an alternative to the dangerous and congested A1079.

"We believe that reopening the railway may be more cost effective and will provide a considerable boost to the quality of life and prosperity of East Yorkshire."

Updated: 10:09 Thursday, April 17, 2003