RAIL enthusiasts could be forced to be pay to get into two of the region's top attractions as their budgets run out of steam.

The National Railway Museum in York, which has a major facility at Shildon, County Durham, is one of three across the north faced with a major belt-tightening exercise.

Although closure is thought to be highly unlikely, one of the options being looked at is the re-introduction of admission charges.

The NRM is - along with the National Media Museum in Bradford and the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester - part of the Science Museum Group, led by its London flagship.

Since it was first opened in 1975 the York museum has been a resounding success. It took the title of Museum of the Year in 1991 and European Museum of the Year ten years later.

Last year, more than 200,000 people passed through the doors of Locomotion: The National Railway Museum, at Shildon and it has won numerous awards since opening in 2004.

Admission charges were introduced in York in 1986, but were scrapped 15 years later when all the museums in the group became free to enter.

In a statement a spokesman for the museum admitted the group had to address a large projected operating deficit from next year - but would not go into details or give a figure.

The group is expected to come under even greater pressure when Chancellor George Osborne announces his spending review later this month.

"We have already undertaken a range of cost saving initiatives since the Government cuts announced in October 2010," said the spokesman.

"We will look at further efficiencies to ensure that we continue to care for our collections and maintain our role in inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers."

The spokesman said they were looking at "the full range of options" but declined to go into further detail.

Council leaders from York, Manchester and Bradford have met with the Science Museum Group to discuss the future of the museums.

York city council leader James Alexander said: "We are keen to encourage increased collaboration across these museums and with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills."

Durham county councillor Brian Stephens helped to bring Locomotion to Shildon in 2004 when he was the leader of the now defunct Sedgefield Borough Council.

He said: "If they begin to charge an entry fee it will have an effect on visitor numbers especially in these times of austerity.

Councillor Peter Quinn, mayor of Shildon, added: "If people have to pay to get into Locomotion then the whole town will suffer."

Councillor Simon Henig, leader of Durham County Council and a board member at Locomotion, said: "Part of the museum's attractiveness is that it has free entry.

"It would be a great shame to charge an entry fee. Over the last two years there has been the highest number of visitors to Locomotion since the first year it was open."