A HEAVYWEIGHT clash is looming over the future management of Dorset and Hampshire's railway network.

The Stagecoach group - which runs South West Trains and co-owns Virgin Trains - is backing proposals for individual rail operators to take control of track in their franchise areas, following the collapse of Railtrack.

Company chiefs say the radical move, known as "vertical integration", would give the public a safer and more efficient service.

But the idea has been slammed by freight operators, who say it would cause disruption and division, making national timetabling for long-distance journeys almost impossible.

Stagecoach, however, is keen to press ahead with the move, and is preparing proposals to go before Transport Secretary Stephen Byers later this month.

Group chairman Brian Souter said it would restore the close links between train operations and track which disappeared with the demise of British Rail, without losing the competition and funding advantages of privatisation.

Under the suggested system, train operators would both maintain and run the track in their franchise areas, without taking ownership away from the proposed new track company.

"Responsibility for wheel and track should not have been split so dramatically at privatisation," he said.

"We, the train operators, are closest to the passengers, and we understand their frustration at the poor quality of service."

But planning director Graham Smith of EWS, Britain's leading rail freight operator, said: "Train operating companies do not have the track and signalling engineering skills to take on these responsibilities."