THE Tamar Valley rail partnership, which works to promote and improve services on the Plymouth-Gunnislake line, has welcomed the launch of the government?s strategy for developing rural railways ? despite fears that cutting subsidies will lead to the closure of branch lines. The new strategy aims to reduce costs and increase ridership through more local involvement in the running of rural railways, more flexibility in fares and timetables, innovative marketing and the adoption of appropriate maintenance standards for the lines which are largely low speed, low frequency routes. The Tamar Valley line is one of seven routes chosen nationwide as a pilot for the strategy, along with the Looe Valley line and the St Ives Bay line. Rail partnership manager Richard Burningham said the strategy represented a ?very welcome opportunity? for rural railways and the communities they served. ?We are pleased that three local branch lines have been designated as pilots for the strategy and very much look forward to working with the SRA and the rail industry to put the strategy into action,? he said. ?On the Tamar Valley line, thanks to the strong support of our partners, we are already doing a number of initiatives outlined in the strategy, such as the Tamar Valley Carnet and the Tamar Valley Line Rail Ale Trail. ?The strategy will give us the opportunity to take this to the next stage and beyond.? Colin Breed, Liberal Democrat MP for South East Cornwall, declared the new strategy an opportunity rather than a threat. He said: ?I think lines such as Plymouth-Gunnislake and other local branch lines would benefit from a community approach. I don?t believe individual lines themselves would be particularly fruitful for communities to run. ?What I would like to see is the lines in Cornwall to come under one community management operation to look for subsidy for the whole lot, taking into consideration lines that are not profitable as well as those that are.? But Ashley Gray, Conservative spokesman for South East Cornwall, was concerned about the government?s cost-cutting plans. Under the proposals, it is hoped a third of all costs should be saved by reducing the cost of rolling stock and infrastructure. Mr Gray said: ?Our transport infrastructure is pitiful enough without the government once again reducing Cornwall?s slice of cake. ?On the positive side the new arrangements will mean local control, with decisions taken locally without endless national interference. ?The Devon and Cornwall rail partnership has been campaigning for such responsibilities for some time; they will now have the chance to take appropriate action to support our lines. ?This could be an opportunity for local plans with real vision to be pursued so that the lines are used by more people, more of the time. ?The most important thing is for all of us to work to safeguard the future of what are important assets to Cornwall and part of our historic heritage.? The rail partnership is made up of Devon County Council, Cornwall County Council, Plymouth City Council, Wessex Trains, University of Plymouth and the Countryside Agency.