A MAJOR appeal to help safeguard the future of an award-winning heritage railway has taken a big step forward.

The North York Moors Railway is attempting to raise £650,000 by the end of the year to replace a vital bridge between Goathland and Grosmont.

Two substantial new grants have taken the total reached so far to £610,000.

A grant of £300,000 has been awarded by North Yorkshire County Council and a grant of £100,000 has been awarded from the Leader programme, designed to help rural communities regenerate. The county council’s executive member for transportation, John Fort, said: “When we were made aware of the condition of Bridge 30 we felt we had to do something. The council recognises the significant value of this heritage steam railway both as an important transport artery running through the National Park, linking moors and coast, and as a significant contributor to the local tourism economy.

“By supporting the renewal of this vital piece of transport infrastructure, it will make all the difference and will help to safeguard the long term future of the railway.”

Mike Horrocks, the regional manager of the Leader programme, said their contribution was the most they had given to something in the area. “It is a substantial sum for a substantial project,” he said.