WORK has begun on a £2m investment scheme for the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR). Construction Marine has started work on the second platform at Whitby station, which will enable the NYMR to increase the number of trains running to and from the town in order to meet the surge in visitors.

NYMR general manager Philip Benham said: “We are delighted that construction has finally commenced.”

Ryedale towns such as Pickering are expected to benefit. From the summer, the new platform will allow two more trains to run to and from Whitby every day as part of the scheme which is supported by a £1.1m grant from round one of Government’s Coastal Communities Fund and a total of £850,000 from Network Rail.

The NYMR has also received a £500,000 loan from the York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) to invest in projects along the NYMR lines between Grosmont and Pickering.

LEP chairman Barry Dodd said: “Improving travel connections is a core component of the LEP’s strategy.”