A BID to re-open an historic railway line can now go full steam ahead after the announcement of two key appointments.

Weardale Railway Ltd has appointed Tony Greenup as project manager and Dave Foxton as outdoor works manager.

The move means the group can now press on with plans to open the 15-mile track between Bishop Auckland, Stanhope and Eastgate to the public by Easter 2004.

If all goes well it is hoped the first six miles will be ready to run steam trains by the end of June this year, to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the end of passenger services on the County Durham line.

Mr Greenup, a former project manager with Rolls Royce, is relishing the prospect.

He said: "I see this as a great challenge and I've decided to take the bull by the horns.

"Something like this will never happen again and when this is completed it will be the largest heritage railway in the country.

"To me as a professional guy, something of this size and the impact it will have on the local economy is something I want to be a part of."

Mr Foxton has been involved with the project as a volunteer from the start in 1993.

A former foreman for OK Motor Services in Bishop Auckland, he had no hesitation in applying for the job.

He said: "I've been involved in pushing this project along for a lot of years and now we've got these two employees to see it through is a milestone for us.

"It means we're starting to see things happen in the dale and that's what we've been waiting for." He added: "When I got the phone call to say I'd definitely got the job it felt really great.

"To me it's a dream because it's been an ambition of mine to work on railways all my life."