The Aln Valley Railway has announced it has been successful in getting a grant to extend their running line.

The grand allows the railway to construct a platform and run around loop at Greenrigg. This is approximately halfway towards the railways goal of reaching Alnmouth station.

Greenrigg Halt will provide a destination for passengers. They can alight here for a picnic by the river, or continue their journey on foot to discover the local wildlife.

The grant award, with a 20% funding from the sustainable transport charity, Sustrans, totals £146,600.

The Rural Development Programme for England grant will cover the cost of the groundworks, track work, platform construction and a coach purchase for converting to a cafe facility.

The grant, provided through the Rural Payments Agency, uses funds jointly provided by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Once the project is complete, the project will allow the Aln Valley Railway to offer a 1.5-mile long train ride to a specific destination. This extension more than doubles the current journey on offer to passengers. The increase in length should hopefully increase passenger numbers and therefore increase the revenue for the railway.

The facilities at Greenrigg will be a useful facility for walkers, cyclists and horse riders.

There is also a separate grant by the Northumberland County Council for an adjacent cycleway, this is still undergoing with a response expected in August 2018.

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