Campaigners meet MP over Skipton-Colne railway

SELRAP campaigners Chris Oakley, left, and Peter Bryson, right, with Pendle & Clitheroe MP Jonathan Hinder

Campaigners who want the government and rail industry to reopen the Colne to Skipton rail link have taken their local MP down to see its potential.

The 12-mile route, connecting Lancashire with North Yorkshire, last ran in 1970.

Members of the Skipton East Lancashire Rail Action Partnership (SELRAP) met Jonathan Hinder MP in his office in Colne and then showed him a section of the old track bed.

The Labour backbencher used his maiden speech in Parliament to call for the restoration of the line.

The 12-mile route, connecting Lancashire with North Yorkshire, has not operated since 1970

SELRAP wants the Colne to Skipton link reopened to allow for fast trans-Pennine train services between east Lancashire boroughs such as Pendle, Hyndburn and Burnley to Skipton, Bradford and Leeds.

East Lancashire has some of the poorest boroughs in the country, with limited business and infrastructure investment and weak house prices, SELRAP says.

Limited transport connections are seen as factors by the campaigners.

Much of the Colne branch line east of Burnley and serving towns including Nelson and Brierfield is just single track with limited train timetables.

Yet the old track bed remains in many sections and new extra lines could be laid, campaigners say.

Their long-term aim is to expand connections from west to east, including Blackpool, Preston, Liverpool, Bradford, Leeds and Hull, through a new Colne-Skipton section.

Speaking this week, Jane Wood, a SELRAP member from Barnoldswick, said: "Mr Hinder agreed that it was a positive meeting and said he looked forward to working with SELRAP to finally get this project over the line as soon as possible.

"Follow-up action by him will include writing to the government about pursuing the next steps to carry out the required new feasibility study."