CAMPAIGNERS highlighting the levels of air pollution caused by cars are backing rail technology pioneered by an Atherton scientist.

The RMT rail and transport trades union wants the Government to renationalise railways and claims that cars continue to damage the environment and cause congestion.

Bob Crow, general secretary of the RMT, said: "Public ownerhip will allow proper transport planning to cope with increased demand for travel due to new developments and the need to reduce road traffic to get cleaner air."

Prime Minister Tony Blair is examining the possibility of studies into a Maglev train system for Britain.

It is a system campaigners say would help to reduce pollution and greenhouse gasses.

The 300mph train link is based on Atherton scientist Professor Eric Laithwaite's 60 year-old idea of using power magnets instead of fuel to run trains.

It could be the basis of a rail service connecting Manchester, Edinburgh, Birmingham and London, cutting journey times from Manchester to London to 45 minutes.

Laithwaite's ideas were dismissed until the late 1990s when China began developing the Maglev railway, which now runs from Shanghai to the airport at 267mph.

Maglev trains are non-pollutant and use the power of magnets to run at speeds of up to 311 mph.

Mr Crow said: "In our towns and cities, levels of nitrogeon dioxide are too high and are damaging to those with respiratory and other health conditions."

RMT spokesman Derek Cotz said: "We support the expansion of the rail network including trains, trams and systems such as Maglev."