Plans to reinstate the railway link between Malton and Pickering were today given cautious support by the North York Moors National Park Authority.

But members say they are concerned that the £19 million project could sap cash from the successful Moors Railway.

The authority agreed to back North Yorkshire County Council's move to commission a detailed feasibility study after the council's consultants, Mouchel, said the scheme was possible from an engineering point of view.

Councillor Helen Schroeder, the authority's vice chairman, said that the study would have to pay special attention to Pickering's environment, and to the link's possible adverse effect on the Moors Railway, which runs from Pickering to Grosmont.

Coun Mike Knaggs said the ambitious project could cause problems on the southern approach to Pickering, because he believed three crossings would be needed before the line reached the town centre station.

There could be benefits be re-opening the line, closed 35 years ago, he said, but there could also be problems.

But Bill Breakell, the park's transport and tourism officer, said re-opening the line could ease the area's traffic and transport problems.