THE success of a recently-revived North Yorkshire rural railway has attracted the interest of members of parliament.

Officials from the Wensleydale Railway, which opened two years ago, travelled to London to speak to members of the House of Commons' transport select committee about rural railways.

The visit to London came in the same week as the Wensleydale Railway announced it was expanding its services this winter.

The railway will continue its passenger trains between Leeming Bar and Redmire in the winter, seven days a week except for Christmas and New Year's Days.

The new timetable begins today and is valid until March 16.

There will be five daily trains, the first departing from Leyburn, and there will be regular bus connections to and from the main line at Northallerton.

It is hoped the expansion of services will ensure continuity of employment for staff and access an additional source of passenger revenue.

Ruth Annison, marketing director of the Wensleydale Railway, travelled to London with the railway's chief executive last Wednesday to speak to the select committee.

She said: "The committee is very interested in what we have managed to achieve in such a short time. This is a time when a lot is going on in rural railways."

Ms Annison said it was always the railway's intention to run services year-round, but it came as a surprise to some people that it happened so quickly after the line re-opened.

She said: "We have been pleased with patronage this year and consider there is a market to carry on through the winter rather than stop and have to start again.

"We hope to introduce a local user's railcard. There is a market for walking groups to Redmire and there is potential traffic both ways." This winter, passengers will also be offered discount deals at tourist attractions and shops at Bolton Castle, Leyburn, Bedale, Leeming Bar and Northallerton.

Another series of Santa Specials is being arranged for this month and next.

Last month, the railway featured on the front cover of a publication by the Countryside Agency which provides information about re-opening disused railways.