RAIL bosses have pulled out of negotiations to make the Marlow to Maidenhead railway line a community line following a lack of support for the proposals.

The line, which serves thousands of London commuters each year, was earmarked for change with other lines in the Thames Valley, including Windsor to Slough, and Henley to Twyford.

But this week the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) announced that it was putting the possibility of conversions "on hold" for the time being, because there had not been "sufficient local support".

If the Marlow route was changed it would mean local authorities would have to fund it partly by themselves, saving the Government millions of pounds.

Chris Austin, executive director of community rail development for the SRA, said: "We have already had a number of meetings with the local authorities, but we feel that more time is needed to ensure all those involved are fully aware of how Community Rail can work for them.

"As such, we will await the outcome of the six pilot schemes later this year and see how the local authorities wish to take this forward."

Marlow's MP, Paul Goodman, welcomed the decision but warned interested parties to look out for further threats to the line's future.

He said: "It is a welcome decision but I think that everyone who is concerned has got to watch this line like a hawk because the department (of transport) has its beady eye on it and it is indispensable to my constituents in Marlow."

Although the decision leaves the possibility of negotiations open at a later stage, many believe the proposals are already "dead and buried".

Town councillor Tony Dunn said: "I think they have realised there is no support whatsoever and they don't think they need to pursue the cause."

The SRA held talks with local authorities, including Buckinghamshire County Council and Wycombe District Council, with a view to taking plans further.

But following a meeting in April they have decided to pull out and allow the authorities to oversee the development of their community lines elsewhere in the country.

They hope successful examples will persuade authorities to reopen talks eventually.

However, Richard Ward, for the county council, said they had now "drawn a line" under the issue.

He said: "It is not going to happen in the short term but in the medium to long term I think it could be resurrected."

A spokesman for Wycombe District Council added: "We did think the idea was worth investigating, but the initiative is not being pursued."

The latest move comes in the light of rumours last week where the council claimed in a newsletter that the SRA was planning to axe the Marlow proposal.