VOLUNTEERS frustrated after their beloved heritage railway run was axed have launched a new service to replace it.

Members of the newly formed Weardale Railway Heritage Service (WRHS) said they will take baby steps towards improving the new service, due to start on Saturday (June 14).

The railway’s owners axed the heritage runs between Wolsingham and Stanhope station around 18 months ago as the service was not deemed financially viable.

But that decision has always rankled with the volunteers whose passion is to see the historic line being used to transport passengers through the County Durham countryside.

Tony Slack, president of WRHS, said: “We understood why the heritage service ended but were not happy with it.

“We want to see trains running up and down the dale. The railway has played a big part in the area’s history and we want to see it preserved for future generations to enjoy.”

The Weardale Railway Community Interest Company, who own the railway, have granted the volunteers permission to use the track and stations with the new service being funded through interest free loans from directors and members of the new group.

But Mr Slack said the aim is for the heritage trips to become self-sustaining.

He said: “We are taking baby-steps with this, just a small service to start with and see where we go from there.

“It’s important that we don’t run before we can walk and grow the service sustainably to benefit both the railway and the dale.

“It is a fantastic resource for the dale however and it’s one of those things where to not use it for a while would make it much harder to bring back in the future.”

The volunteers will run a 60-seater, 1958-built class 122 Bubble Car along the six mile track between Wolsingham and Stanhope three times a day every weekend until the middle of October.

The first train leaves Stanhope at 10.30am and Wolsingham at 11am, with the last departing from Stanhope at 3.30pm and Wolsingham at 4pm.

Tickets cost £4.50 for an adult single, £9 return, £11 rover, and £2.50 for a child’s single, £5 return and £7 rover.

A family ticket will cost £23 and family rover £28.

Children under four travel for free.