Skipton-Colne reopening bid gathers momentum
THE Department for Transportfunded feasibility study into reopening the 11½-mile ‘missing link’ between Skipton and Colne is under way.
The study, announced by Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling during a visit to Colne on February 3 ( RAIL 846), is being undertaken by a leading UK rail consultancy and is due to be completed this autumn.
“We are pleased with the recent announcement of the Department for Transport’s commitment to exploring the possibility of reopening the railway between Skipton and Colne. We will work closely with the DfT on this and look forward to seeing the results,” said Tim Wood, Northern Powerhouse Rail Director at Transport for the North
“This work supports our vision in Transport for the North for a thriving north of England, where modern transport connections drive economic growth and support an excellent quality of life.
“In our Strategic Transport Plan, we have identified the Central Pennines as one of seven corridors vital to economic growth in the North. A reopened rail link between Skipton and Colne could help improve connectivity in the Central Pennines area.”
The five MPs who represent constituencies in the Bradford Metropolitan area recently held one of their occasional informal meetings, this time discussing the need for infrastructure investment in the area - particularly Northern Powerhouse Rail and the SkiptonColne project.
“We think the restoration of the Skipton-Colne line could mean direct journeys from Shipley, Bingley and Keighley to Manchester and Manchester Airport,” MPs John Grogan (Labour, Keighley) and Philip Davies (Conservative, Shipley) told RAIL.
“As well as helping holidaymakers, business travellers, jobseekers and commuters, this new cross-Pennine line would be a big boost for railway freight.”
With a population of over half a million, Bradford is the sixth largest English District, while the towns of Shipley, Bingley and Keighley have a combined population in excess of
100,000.
Writing to the Skipton and East Lancashire Rail Action Partnership (SELRAP) campaign group’s communications officer Andy Shackleton, Grayling said: “I would like to thank you for the work that you and SELRAP have done to raise the profile of the case for a reopened line between Skipton and Colne, recently with a particular focus as a potential strategic freight route.
“This rail line could create a new, faster rail freight route across the Pennines, and enable new passenger services between Lancashire, Skipton and Leeds, connecting towns on the route to new employment, training and leisure opportunities.”
Grayling also confirmed in his letter that the feasibility study will look into the estimated costs, value and funding options for reopening the line for freight and passengers.
If a case for reopening is established, Grayling said he expects that it will be taken forward for consideration through the new enhancements process for Control Period 6 (2019-24), and that subsequently “we will consider further investment subject to ongoing assessment of the business case, its affordability and value for money”. ■ See feature, RAIL 853