They heard of exciting plans to transform the Esk Valley Line, from Middlesbrough to Whitby, into a showpiece community railway.

The members of the all-party rail group of parliamentarians were accompanied by representatives of North Yorkshire County Council, North Yorkshire Moors National Park, Arriva Trains Northern, and other rail industry groups.

The visitors travelled on a special train called The Parliamentarian from Pickering to Grosmont, where they joined an Arriva Trains Northern service into Whitby, along the Esk Valley Line.

They witnessed at first hand the missing link between Malton and Pickering, which North Yorkshire County Council is planning to restore. The line closed in 1965.

The group travelled on Britain’s premier heritage railway, which carries nearly half a million passengers a year, said Dr Paul Salveson of ACORP.

At Grosmont they joined what we hope will become Britain’s premier community railway.

The Esk Valley Railway Development Company has been formed to develop the line as a pilot for a new approach to operating, managing and maintaining rural railways.

Tony Smare, project manager for the development company, said: We are working with the Strategic Rail Authority and rail industry partners to transform the Esk Valley Line, from Middlesbrough to Whitby, into a quality, locally-managed railway which meets the needs of local people and visitors.

The partnership between EVRDC and the North Yorkshire Moors Railway is critical.

We want to run steam into Whitby on an occasional basis, said Steve Hogg, vice-chairman of the NYMR Trust.

This will require track improvements between Grosmont and Whitby, which would also allow other charter train operators to run trains into Whitby.

Lawrie Quinn, MP for Scarborough and Whitby and chair of the all-party rail group, was delighted with the success of the visit.

It inspired my colleagues – from all across the UK – with a vision for how rural railways can be run in the future, he said.

The NYMR is much more than a tourist attraction, and its partnership with the EVRDC – a real community-based partnership -offers exciting opportunities for a direct rail link from Whitby to York and beyond.

Further details and comment: Tony Smare, EVRDC 0113 250 2135, Steve Hogg NYMR 01751 472508

Association of Community-Rail Partnerships, Brian Jackson Centre, New North Parade, Huddersfield HD1 5JP Phone: 01484 549737 Fax: 01484 544234 Email: paul at thecarriage.freeserve.co.uk