REOPENING a long-disused railway line in North Yorkshire could generate up to 100,000 journeys a year, a report has revealed.

The move would significantly reduce road congestion and create a fare income of more than £1m for the rail industry, claims the study.

The results of the survey will be used for further consultations on the possibility of reopening the old Malton to Pickering line.

The study was commissioned by the county council with financial support from the Countryside Agency and was carried out by the Jacobs Consultancy with help from the Institute of Transport Studies at Leeds University.

The authority's executive member for public transport, Councillor John Fort, said the study was an important stage in considering the potential for reopening the line.

"Last year we looked at the technical feasibility of re-opening the route and the conclusion was that there were no physical reasons why it could not be reinstated at an estimated cost of £19m," he said.

The study considered two basic options for running services either simply between York and Pickering or continuing on to Whitby. "The option for linking through to Whitby would be far more ambitious, requiring careful integration with the existing services provided by the North Yorkshire Moors Railway," said Coun Fort.

The study found the option of running from York, through the National Park to Whitby would attract the most passengers, particularly from the tourist market, with an estimated figure of 100,000 and a fare income of £1m-plus.

The more limited option of running services to Pickering would reduce the passenger forecast to 65,000 journeys with a correspondingly lower fare income.

The study found the wider economic benefits of transferring trips from road to rail, including improved journey times and reduced congestion, would amount to about £3.5m a year.

The county council will be consulting with other interested parties, in particular the Strategic Rail Authority, which determines investment priorities for rail schemes.

Study results can be seen at the libraries in Malton and Pickering and at the district council offices in Malton, or on the county council website at www.northyorks.gov.uk