CAMPAIGNERS last night claimed victory in the fight to save a mothballed North-East rail route from the threat of development, raising hopes it could be re-opened.

Network Rail announced it would join a new study to reinstate the 21-mile Leamside line, which links Ferryhill, in County Durham, with Pelaw, near Gateshead.

Following a meeting in London, the body insisted it had no option but to press ahead with removing the remaining track, because it is in such a poor state of repair.

But its pledge to work with Nexus, the Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive, on a feasibility study was seen as removing any fear the land would then be sold.

Dyan Crowther, route director of Network Rail North-East, said: "The Leamside line is saved forever as far as we are concerned. We do not have any intention of closing it. We are committed to join with Nexus and other stakeholders to carry out a feasibility study about re-opening the line and I very much hope it can be positive."

The pledge was welcomed by Fraser Kemp, MP for Houghton and Washington East, who arranged the meeting.

He said: "I am really grateful that Network Rail have made this commitment. The Leamside line has been neglected, but Wearsiders know that is no reason why we should not now look to the future and plan to reopen it to proper traffic."

Durham City MP Roberta Blackman-Woods, said: "I'm really pleased at the outcome of the meeting and I hope we can now reopen the line for passengers."

The Leamside line has been closed to freight services since 1992 and passengers since the mid-1960s. Campaigners insist it should be re-opened to ease congestion on the East Coast Main Line, where some regional services, including the Tyne-Tees link, have been forced off.

Network Rail wants to salvage any remaining assets to benefit other parts of the rail network.

It says the Leamside line would need to be replaced before a service could run on the route.