A HERITAGE railway could be transformed into a major tourist attraction to regenerate County Durham’s tourist economy after the Covid pandemic.

Durham County Council’s Cabinet will hear that investing in Weardale Railway would not only support the connectivity of the county through investment in rail but would, in securing its future, significantly boost the region’s visitor economy at a crucial time.

A newly established subsidiary of The Auckland Project, Weardale Railway, took over the line last year and is seeking financial support to develop and expand, building on work already undertaken by the railway to create an exemplary tourist attraction.

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It is anticipated this would draw thousands of additional visitors to the Durham Dales each year.

This would not just provide a welcome boost to shops and hospitality businesses in Weardale, but further a-field, as visitors go on to explore other parts of the county.

The venture would also create employment and training opportunities for residents, including apprenticeships for young people, and sustainable transport options.

In order to make the project viable, the council has been asked to contribute £2.1 million as match funding towards the cost of vital infrastructure improvements.

The partnership with the council has been described as critical to support the successful delivery of the project.

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Durham County Councillor Carl Marshall, Cabinet member for economic regeneration, said: “This type of investment is crucial to the regeneration of the county and is something we are focusing on as we recover from the impact of the pandemic. Showing we have confidence in our county’s future, will encourage other investors to open their businesses here, creating and safeguarding even more jobs.”

Dating back to 1847, Weardale Railway stretches a total of 19 miles from Bishop Auckland to Eastgate and connects a number of towns and villages. It has open stations at Witton-le-Wear, Wolsingham, Frosterley and Stanhope and offers a romantic way for people to travel through the picturesque Durham Dales.

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Durham County Councillor Joy Allen, Cabinet member for transformation, culture and tourism, said: “With a calendar of events planned to attract people to the Weardale Railway, it would also encourage people to visit other parts of the county – from Durham City to our stunning heritage coastline. It also has the potential to increase passenger journeys via the Bishop Auckland Line and East Coast Main Line, helping us to attract regional and national visitors and further boosting our economy.”

David Maddan, chief executive of The Auckland Project, said: “After a very difficult year for tourism, the future promises to be an exciting one for Weardale Railway as we work with everyone involved to bring this unique heritage line back into operation. Significant repairs are needed on the line, and our team is working hard behind the scenes to make sure that the next chapter of Weardale Railway’s story will be a success.”

Cabinet will be asked to consider investing in the project when it meets on Wednesday 16 September.