Wensleydale launches urgent track appeal
THE WENSLEYDALE Railway needs to raise over £100,000 to address “significant areas of concern” about its track in time for Christmas.
The WR’s trackside and infrastructure maintenance has been adversely affected by the pandemic, while the Office of Rail and Road has described the line’s track as “having reached the end of its useful life”.
A railway spokesperson said: “The immediate need is to ensure that the track is fully operational to Constable Burton in time for ‘The Polar Express’ and running to Leyburn for Christmas. The reality is that we will need to address some significant areas of concern in respect of both the track and associated crossings and so on from Leeming Bar to Leyburn, at an estimated cost of £38,000.”
In addition to an estimated 1,000 sleepers that require replacement this year, approximately 200 diseased ash trees need felling or pollarding to enable ‘The Polar Express’ trains to run, at an estimated cost of £38,000, which includes additional weedkilling and other vegetation management. Furthermore, much of the line’s 40 miles of lineside fencing “requires replacement or reinstatement, as it is sub-standard or missing”, for which the WR needs a further £40,000.
The spokesperson added: “While we cannot expect to undertake all the work required for the full 22 miles of track, we need to prioritise and fund work to enable us to keep as much of the line in working order as possible, and improve it to ensure its long-term survival, and to enable us to run trains and a service which will provide funding for the future maintenance and improvements.
“Our existence depends on the availability and security of the track.”
●● To contribute, visit www.justgiving.com/ campaign/infrastructureappeal