Rail campaigners inspired by Scottish line revival

The 11-mile route connecting Colne to Skipton last ran in 1970

Campaigners fighting to reconnect Lancashire to Yorkshire railway services have been boosted by the success of a line resurrected in Scotland.

An 11-mile route connecting Colne to Skipton last ran in 1970 and if reopened it could lead to fast rail services between east Lancashire, Bradford and Leeds.

A group of campaigners pushing to reopen the line have said they hope to emulate the success of those who fought to see the restart of trains between Edinburgh to Tweedbank in the Scottish Borders in 2015.

Jane Wood of the Skipton East Lancashire Rail Action Partnership said: "The Scottish group's inspirational story makes us even more determined to secure the Skipton to Colne line's re-opening."

Pendle and Clitheroe MP Jonathan Hinder is backing the campaign to reconnect and improve Lancashire and Yorkshire railway services

Chris Norton from the Scottish Campaign for Borders Rail was a speaker at a recent SELRAP meeting at Skipton Town Hall, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Mrs Wood said the two groups had supported each other's projects.

She said: "The Scottish Borders line's reopening has been hugely successful, creating economic regeneration in the area.

"Passenger numbers exceeded all expectations, with 1.8m passengers in the first year, including many people being able to commute to Edinburgh.

"It was very important to get the local community involved from the start, because they would be the beneficiaries. But professional support to help lead the Scottish campaign was also important.

"Now, funding of £10m has been awarded for a new feasibility study to explore extending the Scottish borders line south to Carlisle."

She continued: "As the Pendle and Clitheroe MP Jonathan Hinder rightly says, it would be transformational for the area."

Hinder used his maiden speech in Parliament last year to call for the restoration of the Colne to Skipton rail link.