AMBITIOUS plans to secure a multi-million pound investment in an historic railway have been revealed.

Members of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR), one of the most popular tourist attractions in the region, are hoping to make the largest investment in the line since it was built over 150-years-ago.

The charitable trust which runs the Pickering to Whitby railway - now rated as one of the world’s leading heritage railways - aims to invest in the region of £8m - with a £4m bid having been lodged with the Heritage Lottery Fund.

If raised, the money will go towards a range of improvements along the line such as reinforcing bridges and continued investment in train carriages.

In a letter of support for the railway's Heritage Lottery Fund bid, trust chairman John Bailey, said: “We want to provide 21st century standards of access and to enhance the quality of interpretation and learning for tomorrow’s visitors, families, adults and school groups.

“In its first 50 years (as a charity) volunteers overcame huge challenges to establish it as a place for the public to discover the railway story and enjoy a unique heritage journey.”

Mr Bailey added: “We will secure continued operation through a one-off investment in our most fragile bridges, through investment in the care of our irreplaceable carriages, and by attracting and training new generations of volunteers and workers.”

Around 1,000 volunteers and more than 100 paid staff contribute to the operation of the railway.

Its 350,000 visitors each year bring in around £30m to the region’s economy and the recent extension to Whitby Station has opened more journey opportunities for visitors to Whitby and the North York Moors National Park.

The £4m HLF bid is at an early stage and a spokeswoman from NYMR told The Northern Echo: “The additional £5million is being raised by the railway through fundraising.

“The North Yorkshire Moors Railway will issue a formal press release dependent upon the outcome of the stage one application.”

The NYMR is also seeking more volunteers and is holding a recruitment day at Pickering train station on April 9 from 9.30am.