MP for Berwick Alan Beith had called for the debate following confusion amongst rail users over two consultations on future services and the loss of services from draft timetables.

During the debate the under secretary of state for transport confirmed that from May 2011 there will be trains every hour to and from London which call at Berwick, as well as a two-hourly Cross Country Service.

There will also be a 30 per cent increase in train services at Alnmouth and additional trains calling at Morpeth.

Mr Beith said: "The Minister made commitments to what will in many ways be an improved service from Berwick and Alnmouth and will restore services at Morpeth which were not in the draft timetable, and I look forward to seeing the details in a revised timetable.

"There is still a serious problem with there being no train to get business people into London from Northumberland before 10.41am.

"That is a serious deterioration in the service which will force some people to use the plane rather than the train."

The Minister said that changes to the early train from Edinburgh to speed up the service were being brought in to encourage people to choose rail rather than air travel to move between the capitals.

However, Mr Beith argues that the loss of a service arriving early into London from Northumberland would probably increase the number of people flying from Newcastle, wiping out any perceived environmental gain.

Mr Beith will meet with the under secretary of state on February 23 to follow up these concerns and to push for reinstatement of the early service.

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