Talk of a "bright future" for Britain's railways is not matched by any detailed plans to expand the rail network, Transport 2000 has said.

The campaign group warned on Friday that so far there had only been "woolly talk" on enhancing local powers over public transport.

Speaking at a rail conference being held in Leeds, Transport 2000 director Stephen Joseph was warning of a "genuine threat " to local services.

He was set to call for greater devolution of transport planning, with local direction over local developments.

The government's recent white papers on transport and rail effectively work against the growth of regional rail, Joseph was warning.

"There is talk of a bright new future for rail but no plans for future rail growth," he said.

"Behind the woolly talk of local powers and responsibilities is a failure to devolve real powers or funds to improve transport in the regions.

"And coupled to this is a masked but genuine threat to local rail services and the influence of passenger transport executives."

Pointing to a public transport "renaissance" in mainland Europe, he said that local involvement had led to a regeneration of ex-industrial areas and pollution-free city centres.

"In the rare situation where similar investment has taken place here, for example on the Airedale and Wharfedale lines in West Yorkshire, passenger growth, new jobs and a regeneration of the towns and villages along the line have followed," he added.