Wensleydale Railway has launched another fundraising appeal to restore more sections of its passenger train services to Redmire.

Since 2020, a section of the railway between Leyburn and Redmire has been closed due to poorly maintained tracks and infrastructure.

Richard Leathley, Chairman of The Wensleydale Railway Association (Trust) Limited said: "The Leyburn to Redmire section of our railway has some of the finest scenery & views in the Yorkshire Dales and we're committed to re-opening this part of our line.

"Our goal is to restore passenger services to Redmire station by September 2025."

The railway is directing this new fundraising appeal towards a 0.75-mile track section near Wensley Station.

It requires moving the track away from an embankment edge, which will involve significant materials and labour resources.

The earthworks holding the railway at the foot of the cliffs near Leyburn Shawl have eroded and fallen into nearby fields, leaving some sleepers uncovered and unsupported.

Civil Engineer surveys have led to plans to move the track onto a previously used part of the quarry sidings.

A significant amount of materials, labour, and money will be required; the operation will cost roughly £25,000 for 1,000 tons of ballast alone.

This doesn't account for the hiring of machinery and qualified operators, and a tamping unit for approximately £10,000, along with railway staff and engineers.

Fundraising and Marketing Manager, Nick Keegan, called for further support, saying: "We have made great progress with our plans to restore passenger services to Redmire.

"However, the work is challenging, time-consuming and costly."

With sections of the track dating back to before the First World War, a 2022 fundraising appeal raised over £50,000 and the line was surveyed and work began in 2023.

The railway changed sleepers, removed trees, and focused on earthworks and drainage.

Special attention was paid to a section of the railway running through a deep cutting where soil from the north side had slid onto the track.

Approximately 260m of concrete U-tube drainage channel, containing asbestos in damaged pipes, had to be removed and replaced.