CONSULTANTS charged with assessing whether rail links between Northallerton, Ripon and Harrogate can be revived had good and bad news for the advocates of public transport.

An economic case can be made for re-instating the Harrogate to Ripon link but bringing back the northern part of the line is a non-starter.

Those who from time to time complain that too much money is spent by public bodies on private consultants may say it didn't need an expensive study to establish that. Ripon is increasingly falling within the influence of prosperous Leeds and the growth of the cathedral city is inextricably linked with the West Yorkshire metropolis and its near neighbour Harrogate. Road links between the three are already at breaking point and upgrading them would be difficult and even more expensive than the projected cost of reinstating the railway.

Northallerton, however, and Thirsk to a lesser degree, already have good rail links to York and the North-East. They could be better, particularly the local services, but that can be achieved through time-tabling and rolling stock improvements. It doesn't involve major construction work.

The summary of the consultants' report is nevertheless heartening reading for those who believe rail has a future on our crowded isle.

But the prospect of the report translating into reality is not good. The consultants admit the climate for proposing rail re-openings is poor. Their report is encouraging but there's a long journey ahead.