ESSENTIAL railway repairs are expected to continue in the area, despite concern over who will take over the beleaguered rail company Railtrack, which went into administration on Sunday.

The firm was wound up after the Government refused to give additional funds to the near-bankrupt company.

Last week Railtrack Chief Executive Steven Marshall pledged his commitment to the repair of a landslip between Ben Rhydding and Burley-in-Wharfedale, but it is thought that work will continue there, despite the company's termination.

A Railtrack spokesperson said: "All the work in Wharfedale and the surrounding area is continuing, it's business as usual at the moment, but we will have to see what happens in the future - we will just have to sit tight and await decisions."

A 20mph speed limit has been imposed on the line between Ben Rhydding and Burley because the embankment has been built on unstable ground, and it is expected to take at least two years to complete the work.

Before the shock decision for Railtrack, Mr Marshall wrote to members of the Wharfedale Rail Users' Group (WRUG), who were worried about the work.

He said: "We recognise that the current essential speed restrictions not only cause inconvenience to rail travellers, but also have a significant financial impact on Railtrack's business.

"Therefore you may be assured that Railtrack remains committed to rectifying the Ben Rhydding problem as soon as possible."

The redevelopment at Leeds City station is also continuing, but Railtrack won't have any more to do with the work.

Coun Mick Lyons Chairman of the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority (WYPTA) said: "I realise that the travelling public of West Yorkshire are quite rightly concerned about what effect this transfer means.

"I have been assured by the Strategic Rail Authority that the flow of money needed to allow the day-to-day operation of the railway will continue to be provided.

"Leeds First has still a major phase of work to complete. Clearly for things to return to normal and deliver the capacity that Leeds First offers for Leeds and West Yorkshire this work needs to be completed. I have been assured that this work and all other committed work will continue and be completed."

Railtrack has been brought to its knees following three rail disasters - Southall in 1997, Paddington in 1999 and Hatfield last year, and on Sunday, Transport Secretary Stephen Byers placed the company into Railway Administration.

Derrick Joanes, secretary of WRUG, said: "We hope that despite the Railtrack administration there will be no effect on passengers and we hope it won't affect the Leeds Station redevelopment due to be completed by next May."

Coun Lyons said he was fully supportive of the administration. He said: "Public money could not continue to be used to shore up a

private company which instead of putting the industry back on its feet has had to be

more concerned with satisfying its shareholders.

"Over the last three years over £400 million has leaked out of the industry in dividend payments when it should have been reinvested in the railway. I await with interest to see the arrangements for the 'not-for-profit' company to take over the rail network.

Councillor Graham Kirkland (Lib Dem, Otley and Wharfedale) said: "Hopefully the administration will be beneficial to rail users. Railtrack hasn't got a good profile - trains are late and cancelled and people are worried about the safety aspect.

"We can hope that the new group will be concerned with an increase in safety, reliability and cleanliness. There may be a short term decline in service, but that should be replaced by a better company."

It is thought that a not-for-profit private company will eventually take charge of the country's network of train tracks, stations and signalling. Although private, the new company will have no shareholders and any profit will be ploughed back into the rail network.