TRAIN services to Lytham, St Annes and the southern end of Blackpool could be off track for good without a significant increase in passenger numbers, it was revealed this week.

The Blackpool South to Colne line is one of 56 service nationwide covered by the Strategic Rail Authority's new Community Rail Development Strategy.

Efforts will be made to improve the lines, with initiatives including micro-franchising, under which a company takes over an individual line, and changes to ticket and pricing arrangements.

But Transport Secretary, Alistair Darling, has warned that lines which fail to show an improvement in passenger numbers and a reduced need for Government subsidy, may face the axe within five years.

"We can't be in the business of carting fresh air around the country," said Mr Darling on Monday: "I'm not interested in sentiment - we have to be hard headed about this." The Blackpool South line covers Blackpool Pleasure Beach station and Squires Gate, the station covering the resort's fast-developing airport, as well as Lytham and St Annes.

The news is another blow to public transport on the Fylde. Blackpool North last year lost its train connection to London Euston and Brimingham New Street.

Earlier this year, the Government refused to fund a proposed £100 million upgrade of Blackpool's tram network.

Although Blackpool Council chiefs remain confident of reaching a deal with ministers for funding, the latest announcement does cast doubt over another long-held ambition - linking the South Fylde line with the tram network, which was intended to be a future phase of the tram network's overhaul.