LAND and property have been acquired to enable a railway company to reinstate a working line at Hawes.

The Wensleydale Railway plc is presently working on the line to Aysgarth.

Once this is finished the company is looking at restoring the six mile section between Hawes and Garsdale and has bought the land in preparation.

The company's aim is that the line will reduce isolation in the upper dales and open it up more to visitors.

Scott Handley, chief executive of Wensleydale Railway plc, told the Gazette: "As well as residents being able to access the Settle-Carlisle line from Hawes, we estimate that the additional 'visitor spend' created in the area will amount to between £1.5m and £2m every year."

The Wensleydale Railway plc floated a share offer in November last year to raise £2.5 to fund the work on the line.

Details of share purchase can be found on www.wensleydalerailway.com.

The original Wensleydale Railway Line was completed in 1878 and covered 40 miles.

Post war decline of the railways resulted in progressive withdrawal of passenger services on the line until services ceased in 1955.

Freight traffic continued for another decade but by 1964 only an 18-mile section remained.

Other sections were sold off with the only surviving part being used by the MoD to transport heavy armour to and from Catterick Garrison.

In 1992 The Wensleydale Railway Association (now the WR plc) was formed to investigate the feasibility of reinstating the line.

They now have control over several stations on the line, sections of track and a 99-year lease on the line.