Corus Railway Infrastructure Services (CRIS) is to sponsor surveying and engineering design work for the proposed restoration by Wensleydale Railway of track connecting the eastern end of the branch at Castle Hills, north of Northallerton, with the station serving the county town on the East Coast line.
 
Passenger services on part of the 22 mile branch between Northallerton and Redmire were reinstated in 2003 but there has been no direct link from Castle Hills to the station since a short piece of track known as the south curve was lifted many years ago.
 
Wensleydale Railway, which tripled passenger numbers with a 30 day operation involving a 52-year-old steam engine on existing 17 mile services Leeming Bar and Redmire during the summer, sees reopening of the south curve as a priority because it would enable more travellers from anywhere in the country to visit the area.
 
The only access to the branch for trains from the south involves a complicated reversal across the main line into and out of a surviving north facing connection at Castle Hills.
 
This is used by occasional freight and excursion trains.
 
Ian Sesnan, director of communities and regeneration at Wensleydale Railway, said work with CRIS would involve not only the feasibility of reinstating the south curve but options for taking it as close as possible to the station, where the site of the former branch terminus and track bed is now occupied by a car park.
 
Mr. Sesnan said, "Making the connection between Northallerton station and the Wensleydale line will open up many new journey possibilities as it will bring WR's remaining five miles into regular use. This will link Wensleydale once again with the East Coast main line, making green tourism easier and enabling the people of the Dales easier access to goods and services in Northallerton."
 
CRIS, part of Europe's second largest steel producer, supplies rail networks with materials and has teams of engineers, architects, consultants, and surveyors.
 
A spokesman at its head office in York said, "CRIS understands the importance of rail links to economic development and regeneration and appreciates how vital the Wensleydale Railway is to the people of Wensleydale and its visitors."
 
Brian Redhead.