Exhibit 99.1

News release via Canada NewsWire, Calgary 403-269-7605

	    Attention Business/Financial Editors:
	    Enerplus announces cash distribution for October 2008

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	    TSX: ERF.UN
	    NYSE: ERF
	    >>

	    CALGARY, Sept. 30 /CNW/ - Enerplus Resources Fund ("Enerplus") is pleased
to announce that a cash distribution in the amount of CDN$0.47 per unit will
be payable on October 20, 2008 to all Enerplus Unitholders of record on
October 10, 2008. The ex-distribution date for this payment is October 8,
2008.
	    The CDN$0.47 per unit is equivalent to approximately US$0.46 per unit if
converted using a Canadian/US dollar exchange ratio of 1.03. The U.S. dollar
equivalent distribution will be based upon the actual Canadian/US exchange
rate applied on the payment date and will be net of any Canadian withholding
taxes that may apply.
	    Holders of Enerplus Exchangeable Limited Partnership Class B units
(formerly Focus Limited Partnership Class B units) of record on October 10,
2008 will be eligible to receive a distribution of CDN$0.19975 per unit on
October 20, 2008 based on the exchange ratio of 0.425 of an Enerplus trust
unit for each Enerplus Exchangeable Limited Partnership Class B unit.

	    <<
	    Gordon J. Kerr
	    President & Chief Executive Officer
	    Enerplus Resources Fund
	    >>

	    Except for the historical and present factual information contained
herein, the matters set forth in this news release, including words such as
"expects", "projects", "plans" and similar expressions, are forward-looking
information that represents management of Enerplus' internal projections,
expectations or beliefs concerning, among other things, future operating
results and various components thereof or the economic performance of
Enerplus. The projections, estimates and beliefs contained in such
forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and
uncertainties, which may cause Enerplus' actual performance and financial
results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future
performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, those
described in Enerplus' filings with the Canadian and U.S. securities
authorities. Accordingly, holders of Enerplus Trust Units and potential
investors are cautioned that events or circumstances could cause results to
differ materially from those predicted.

	    %CIK: 0001126874

	    /For further information: Investor Relations at 1-800-319-6462 or e-mail
investorrelations(at)enerplus.com/
	    (ERF.UN. ERF)

CO:  Enerplus Resources Fund

CNW 06:00e 30-SEP-08