A mothballed railway line that runs between Appleby and Warcop has been given a significant shunt forward towards carrying passengers again.

The charity behind plans to re-open the six-mile stretch of line the Eden Valley Railway Trust is celebrating the granting of an order that transfers the statutory powers to operate the railway from the British Railways Board (BRB) to the trust.

The granting of the Eden Valley Railway (Transport and Works) Order spells good news for the charity, and trustee Roger Hercock told the Messenger that it would help increase membership and add to the growing number of volunteers with a view to running a passenger service early in 2005.

"It will also hopefully increase our chances of success in grant applications to develop the railway so that it becomes one of the main tourist attractions in the upper Eden Valley, which in turn will benefit local businesses".

Plans are now being made to sell £250,000 worth of shares in the Eden Valley Railway Company - the company formed to operate and develop the railway on behalf of the trust.

Volunteers from the trust will supplement the core workforce employed by the company. The money raised by the share issue will provide the working capital needed to launch the passenger service.

Since 1998 trust volunteers have transformed the former Warcop goods yard site from a wasteland into the headquarters for the project. This site has seen the successful operation of brake van rides on recent bank holidays and has an open area for the public on Sunday afternoons. The next open weekend will be held over the August Bank Holiday when it is hoped to run brake van rides towards Appleby.

Trust chairman Martyn Hewittson Griffiths said: "It seems such a long time ago now that we first made our application to transfer the railway from BRB. The process itself has been in the main outside of our control, being handled on our behalf by our Parliamentary agents, Messrs Winckworth Sherwood. Their diligent work has steered the order through the various stages that must be completed before the Government can make such an order."

Talks have already been held with the police, who want to use the line for a park and ride service for the annual Appleby Horse Fair to help ease traffic congestion in the market town of Appleby. There is also potential for the Army to use the line to carry supplies to their Warcop training area and for thousands of tons of road building materials to be brought in by rail for the proposed A66 road improvement scheme adjacent to the railway in the Warcop area.

Anyone wishing to find out more about the project should call 01228-512204 or visit the trust's website www.evr.org.uk.