Conclusion

Additional rail services along the S&C, offering high-quality journeys and new destinations, will help maintain the vibrancy of (and economic activity in) the market towns and rural areas along the corridor, improving the prosperity and reducing the social deprivation of its residents. It will also provide the health and well-being benefits of the countryside to inbound tourists, whether from the rest of the UK or overseas.

Such additional services will also improve the connectivity between Leeds, Manchester, the S&C corridor, Carlisle and Glasgow - a key factor in generating economic growth.

It is early days for this joint DevCo/ Friends’ campaign for new and improved services, but it has already met with favourable comment.

The last word goes to Rail North Director David Hoggarth: “The Settle-Carlisle Line is very much a jewel in the crown of the Northern network, some of Rail North’s members having been actively involved in saving the line from closure in the 1980s.

“In January 2018 Rail North published a Draft for Consultation of its updated LongTerm Rail Strategy, setting out aspirations for creating a world-class railway by 2050, including recognising the importance of tourism.

“While the detail is subject to further development and business cases, aspirations for higher service frequencies and links to new destinations (such as Glasgow) could provide new opportunities for the next phase in the development of the route.”