A BID to establish a new rail link for Northallerton has taken a leap forward, as permission has been granted for a temporary platform.

Wensleydale Railway has been hoping to run a passenger service to Northallerton for some time.

Today (Thursday, April 25) the plans took a step forward when Hambleton District Council granted planning permission to build a platform near Springwell Lane in the town.

The platform will be temporary, as the heritage rail group wish to establish a permanent platform nearer Northallerton station in order for passengers to link up quickly with other rail routes. The group is not allowed to use Northallerton’s main station for its trains.

Springwell Lane is an unadopted road and passengers will not allowed to park on the private road, but Wensleydale Railway is proposing running a shuttle bus for passengers from Applegarth car park.

The platform will be on a newly upgrading stretch of track between Leeming Bar and Northallerton.

At the Hambleton District Council planning meeting on Thursday, railway manager Nigel Park said it would be unlikely many services would stop at the new station this year, but next year they would run trains to assess the viability of running a passenger service to Northallerton.

He told the meeting: “This development gives us the opportunity to gain some revenue from this six mile stretch of line and assess the demand for passengers.”

Many councillors welcomed the plans, as it would help reduce car journeys and may even help transport people to the dales from Northallerton during the Tour de France next year.

But some were concerned about the effect on residents of Springwell Lane, who have to foot the bill for repairs to the private road, which would provide access to the rail platform.

Councillor John Coulson said: “I think everybody in this room remains committed to Wensleydale Railway and wants to see it coming to Northallerton, there’s no doubt about that.

“But I have to speak on behalf of the people who live on Springwell Lane and the effect of wear and tear on their road.

“Because they are liable for the resurfacing of that particular road and it was a concern for them.”

Planning permission was granted for the new platform until October 31, 2015.