MID-Worcestershire MP Peter Luff has warned that the seizure of Railtrack could mean the end of vital rail schemes in Worcestershire.

Mr Luff has written to Stephen Byers, Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and Regions, demanding "reassurance that his denationalisation of Railtrack" will not be damaging to three vital local rail projects.

Projects Mr Luff fears might be affected include minor improvements to the line from Worcester through Droitwich to Birmingham, the development of Norton Parkway on the outskirts of the city, and the urgent need for increased capacity on the Cotswold line serving Evesham constituents.

"There are three vital rail projects for my constituency all of which must be in jeopardy as a result of the Government's incompetent handling of the industry over the last three or four years," said the MP.

Estimated costs of the Parkway railway station could be as much as £10m for a four-platform station at Norton, where lines to London, Bristol and Birmingham meet.

Worcestershire County Council has been heavily involved in negotiations about Norton Parkway, but a county council spokesman was unable to confirm its latest development.

"The Railtrack issue has brought the issue of train services to the forefront but nothing has happened to Parkway recently," said Mr Luff.

He said in his letter that the Worcester to Birmingham line was unreliable and needed to be improved.

Mr Luff added that Stephen Byers had underestimated private sector confidence in the rail network, and asked for reassurance rail services would improve between now and the next election.

He said the private sector had been so "shabbily" treated by the Government that it was unlikely to invest further in rail infrastructure.

"If it does invest, it's only likely to do so at extremely high interest rates, making the investment unaffordable," said Mr Luff in his letter.

"If that happens, then you will have to fund the vital improvements to the rail network and to other public services from taxation, meaning less money for schools and hospitals."