RAIL campaigners have acquired another substantial asset in their drive to restore train services to Wensleydale.

The Wensleydale Railway Company announced this week that it had acquired most of the station site at Leyburn, including all the former buildings.

A WRC spokesman said this addition to the company's growing portfolio, which also includes the stations at Aysgarth and Leeming Bar, was likely to play a key role in plans to reopen the 22-mile line from Northallerton to Redmire.

Earlier this year it was announced that Railtrack had agreed in principle to transfer its interest in the remaining rump of the Wensleydale line to the WRC.

Railtrack said it shared the view that proposals put forward by the WRC represented the best way of using and developing the line for the benefit of existing customers, the national network, local people and visitors.

Railtrack and the WRA are considering whether the transfer should be through a lease or a sale. If everything goes according to plan, passenger trains could be running from next summer, initially between Leeming Bar and Leyburn.

The surviving 22 miles of track once formed part of a link from Northallerton, on the east coast main line, to Garsdale, on the Settle to Carlisle route, and last saw regular passenger services in 1954.

Following the end of limestone trains from Redmire to Redcar in 1992, the line was leased from Railtrack by the Ministry of Defence, upgraded by the army at a cost of £750,000, and now sees occasional military traffic to and from Catterick Garrison.

WRC director Mr Nick Bullock said: "The Leyburn station site will play a key part in the company's development plans and will be become a focal point for future operations."

He said the WRC's present shop in Leyburn would be moved to the station soon, to be housed in the former ticket office and waiting room.

The WRC is the business and development arm of Wensleydale Railway Association, founded ten years ago to restore local passenger services and promote the idea of an integrated transport system.

The WRC has control of 63pc of six sections of former track bed. The ultimate aim is to restore the complete link to Garsdale.