TOURIST railway bosses will this week appeal for funding to link their line to the national rail network.

Wensleydale Railway directors will hold talks with representatives of development agency Yorkshire Forward.

The company will appeal for public money to restore less than a mile of track to link to Northallerton station and the East Coast Main Line.

At present, trains terminate at Leeming Bar and passengers travel to Northallerton by bus.

Ruth Annison, Wensleydale Railway's marketing director, said: "We will discuss with Yorkshire Forward what they need from our project to be considered for public money."

The work would cost at least £1.5m.

Further money would be needed to pay for a new platform at Northallerton and driver training.

Discussions will also be held this week with Network Rail, which owns the land required for the new track. The talks are being held despite concerns the railway is facing a mounting financial crisis.

Nine staff were made redundant earlier this year and services have been cut in an attempt to balance the books.

An appeal to members of the Wensleydale Railways Association raised £80,000 to keep the railway running.

Last week, letters were also sent to shareholders of Wensleydale Railway plc asking for help.

Bosses said they were banking on taking a large amount of money from tourist trips this Christmas. Trains will run every day except Christmas Day from Saturday until Monday, January 2. Santa Specials will run, with mince pies and mulled wine for adults and presents for children.

Mrs Annison said: "I believe we can demonstrate to Yorkshire Forward that there is a demand for the link, we can match their funding and that the company has the reliability to deliver what it wants to.

"To survive the winter, we need to make the most of the next two or three weeks.

"The post after we sent letters to shareholders has been very encouraging.

"It is positive that the shareholders have supported us as well as the members did - now we need, above all, for people to travel on the railway."

Call 0845 450 5474 to book tickets on the line.