Railway to re-open after landslip

Senior officials at the Wensleydale Railway, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, confirmed yesterday that the damaged embankment at Akebar has been repaired and track is now being re-laid across the site of the landslip. The first passenger trains to call at Finghall Lane, Leyburn and Redmire this season are now scheduled to run on Saturday.

The railway’s general manager, Nigel Park, said: “This has not been the start to our 10th anniversary season we would have wished for, but the support of our members, shareholders and the local community has been fantastic and has enabled us to get the job done quickly.”

The cost of the repairs has been estimated at £30,000, and fundraising events have been staged to cover the expenditure. The 10am and noon services from Leeming Bar on Saturday are due to be steam-hauled by the North Eastern Locomotive Preservation Group’s class J72 locomotive number 69023.