Date: 03/01/2012

RAIL chiefs have axed a passenger service set up to serve rural communities because not enough people are using it. The Weardale Railway, in County Durham, launched its community service between Stanhope and Bishop Auckland in May 2010 to help rural residents get to the town. But the service ran its last train on Saturday due to a poor take up by passengers. The railway will instead refocus its efforts on the heritage side of operations, including running a steam engine popular with tourists

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It's the end of the line for rural rail service in Weardale

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RAIL chiefs have axed a passenger service set up to serve rural communities because not enough people are using it.

Related images

Hard by Wolsingham Steelworks is the Wolsingham Railway Centre, base of operations for the re-opening of the Weardale Railway, seen here in September 2006.
Location: Wolsingham Steelworks
Company: Wear Valley Railway
26/09/2006 Ewan Crawford

The 12.35 Weardale Railway DMU from Stanhope approaches its destination at Bishop Auckland West on 30 September 2010. [See image 30987]
Location: Bishop Auckland West
Company: Bishop Auckland and Weardale Railway
30/09/2010 John Furnevel

K1 2-6-0 no 62005 stops to take on water at Bishop Auckland on 20 May 1967 on the way back from Westgate with the SLS Three Dales Railtour returning to Middlesbrough.
Location: Bishop Auckland
Company: Bishop Auckland and Weardale Railway
20/05/1967 Robin Barbour Collection (Courtesy Bruce McCartney)