CAMPAIGNERS who have been fighting to reinstate the railway station in a north Cumbrian village are celebrating as their plans steam ahead.

The campaign to get Gilsland railway station back up and running has now received support from the Government.

The Transport Minister Chris Heaton-Harris wrote to Guy Opperman, Hexham MP, to say that in the coming weeks officials would be working with local representatives to move Northumberland County Council’s application forward.

The campaign has also received the backing of various councils, MPs and community organisations.

Mr Opperman said: “I am delighted that our long campaign is getting there slowly but surely. We need this detailed feasibility study.

“I welcome the support of Northumberland County Council, and all those who see the benefits of the reopening of Gilsland Station.

“We are not there yet, but we are getting closer and we have a fair chance to secure the funds thanks to the incredible support of community groups, councils, MPs and agencies right across Cumbria and Northumberland.”

Local campaigners have been fighting for a long time to get the station reinstated - so receiving support in the application to reopen it is a step in the right direction.

The support from the Transport Minister was part of the Restore Your Railway Fund which provides financial support to restore lost rail lines.

The plans for Gilsland station haven’t yet been successful but the next round of successful applicants will be announced at the end of June.

Dan Newrick, one of the campaigners, said “I think we’re all supportive of the idea.

“To the majority of us, this is a self-evident good thing.”

However, there are frustrations over the pace - and the expense - of the plans to reinstate the station.

Initially it had been estimated that it would cost more than £25m to reinstate it, this was then dropped down to £7m.

It has been years in the works and thousands of pounds has been spent trying to reach the point they are currently at. “It’s very difficult for those on the ground to see where seven or eight million would go because we already have the two rails going through the village,” he said. “We are trying to reopen the old station site.”

There is currently no direct route from Carlisle to Hadrian’s Wall which makes it difficult for visitors to the city to reach the landmark sites. A railway station on the Newcastle to Carlisle route would change that.

“This would be the only station that is right on Hadrian’s Wall trail,” said Mr Newrick.

“It means that you could get on the train in London, get off the train at Carlisle, get on the local train, and get off on Hadrian’s Wall trail.”