A railway line running through County Durham’s countryside will reopen this spring for the first time in three years following an extensive restoration programme.
The Auckland Project acquired the 16-mile stretch of track from Bishop Auckland to Stanhope in January 2020 and has been working to repair the line to re-establish a regular service between the two towns.
The Auckland Project and Weardale Railway Limited will run the first service on Saturday April 22 to coincide with the popular Bishop Auckland Food Festival, which attracts around 30,000 visitors a year.
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Visitors to Bishop Auckland Food Festival will be able use the newly re-established rail service to explore the Durham Dales, while residents of Stanhope and Wolsingham will be able to travel to the food festival by train.
Wayne Dixon, general manager of Weardale Railway, said: “We’ve been working hard to get Weardale Railway back on track for the people of Bishop Auckland and Weardale.
“Thousands of passengers have enjoyed a ride on the railway since we opened the line between Stanhope and Wolsingham in May 2022.
“This year we hope even more passengers will be able to enjoy our services, as we expand our timetable and extend the line to Bishop Auckland.”
The Auckland Project hopes to re-introduce regular services from Bishop Auckland to Stanhope, with services operating on selected Saturdays and Sundays during the summer months in 2023.
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David Maddan, CEO of Development at The Auckland Project, said: “The reopening of the line from Bishop Auckland to Stanhope is a landmark moment and we are delighted with the progress that has been made to date.
“We have ambitious plans for the future of Weardale Railway, which we hope will benefit the residents of Weardale as well as those who wish to explore the beauty of the North Pennines AONB by train.”
In the meantime, Weardale Railway Limited are operating their regular timetable between Stanhope and Wolsingham on selected dates throughout February, March and April.
To find out more about The Auckland Project and book tickets click here.
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