Supporters of an historic railway fear one of only six services along the line could be axed by Arriva.

Friends of the Settle-Carlisle Line say Arriva is to scrap the Leeds to Glasgow service.

Pete Shaw, FSCL President, said he had a leaked document which said the route would be scrapped from October 29.

The service has already been reduced since September when passengers for Glasgow had to change trains in Carlisle .

Mr Shaw claimed the plan now was to scrap the service altogether.

Mick Lyons, chairman of West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive, said Arriva's proposals would not be accepted until they could show they were deliverable and would achieve the right results for West Yorkshire passengers.

"I'm sure the Strategic Rail Authority which has also been involved in these negotiations, will take an equally strong position," he said.

"Arriva has told us they expect to be able to support a full service with drivers working overtime by May 2002 and a full service with the correct numbers by the end of that year."

An Arriva spokesman stressed no announcement had been made about reduced services, but she claimed Arriva is being forced into modifying its timetable until it could recruit new drivers.