The York and North Midland Railway successfully promoted a rival line in the same session of Parliament, and obtained an act of Parliament, the York and North Midland Railway (Leeds Extension) Act 1846, for its construction in 1846.

[8] The Y&NMR applied for an act of Parliament for a railway over its proposed route in 1845, starting from a junction with the Leeds and Selby Railway near Cross Gates and continuing roughly north-east to make a connection with the Y&NMR's Church Fenton to Harrogate line south of Tadcaster.

c. lxxxix) was obtained,[note 1] for a line of 17.2 miles (27.7 km) with power to raise capital of £360,000 and a further third in loans.

[13] John Towlerton Leather was contracted to build the Tadcaster-York section,[14] a viaduct at Tadcaster was completed before the work was abandoned after the end of the Railway Mania.

The portion of this line between York and Tadcaster was commenced soon after the obtaining of the Act in 1846, and has been proceeded with to a considerable extent.

[20] Earthworks were constructed for a triangle junction connection to the Harrogate-Church Fenton line immediately northwest of Tadcaster railway station; the viaduct crossed the river upstream and north of the town.

[21] From 1882 or '83 to 1955 there was a siding across the viaduct which was used to supply corn and later coal to Ingleby's Mill on the east bank of the river.