A railway trust’s plans to restore a heritage line can go ahead with a helping hand from the local authorities.

Aln Valley Railway Trust’s hopes of restoring the line between Alnmouth and Alnwick in Northumberland, north east England, lost steam when the owner of a masonry arch bridge resisted because of maintenance obligations and concerns about costs.

But Northumberland County Council has said it will adopt the bridge from its owner, Historic Railways, which is part of Highways England, the government body responsible for the country’s major roads.

The bridge needs some work. It needs a waterproofing concrete overslab, and the arch needs repointing and masonry repairs. The total cost is estimated at US$288,000. Historic Railways has agreed to pay US$166,400, and Northumberland County Council will pay US$160,000. The county council said, “This is a scheme we really wanted to support given the wider economic growth, tourism and leisure benefits the expansion will bring to the town.”