A County Durham heritage railway welcomed its first passengers in three years as the much-loved line reopened for service.
The Weardale Railway welcomed Mrs Sue Snowdon, HM Lord-Lieutenant of County Durham and Richard Holden, MP for North West Durham to enjoy the first scenic return trip from Stanhope to Wolsingham since before the railway was bought by The Auckland Project. They were joined by local people and visitors to the area, many of who were delighted to be part of a chapter for the Weardale Railway.
The Railway was purchased by The Auckland Project in 2020, with a programme of inspections, network assessments, maintenance and repairs to the infrastructure having been undertaken, along with improvements to the trains, with the aim of safely bringing the heritage line back into operation while ensuring the preservation of its long-term future.
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The full line runs for 18 miles between Eastgate to the main railway network at Bishop Auckland. 16 of those 18 miles have been restored for passenger and freight use, with a feasibility study for the reopening of the railway line to commuters getting the go-ahead in October 2021.
David Maddan, Chief Executive of The Auckland Project, was also on board for the first service. He said: "After two years of hard work by The Auckland Project and the Weardale Railway Trust, we are delighted to reopen the railway today and we look forward to welcoming visitors to enjoy the heritage railway experience."
Wayne Dixon, General Manager of Weardale Railway, said: “This has been such a landmark day for all the staff and volunteers and it was truly wonderful to see the train full of passengers and the railway really up and running again. Everyone at Weardale Railway is looking forward to a busy summer."
Richard Holden MP, said: "It’s fantastic to see the Weardale Heritage Line reopened. I’m determined to do all I can to see North West Durham thrive as a great place to live, learn, start a business and bring up a family. Today’s reopening of the Heritage line is a significant step in that direction."
The reopening timetable, which runs until July 2, offers three Saturday services leaving Stanhope at 11am, 1pm and 3pm, with return trips leaving Wolsingham at 11.30am, 1.30pm and 3.30pm. Tickets are available from Stanhope Station and an expanded summer timetable will be confirmed in the coming weeks. For more information, visit the Weardale Railway website.
Are you planning to take a trip on the Weardale Railway this summer? Let us know!
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