Our Valley is special enough for Santa to start his journey
ANOTHER festive tradition around here is the East Lancashire Railway’s Santa specials – ferrying children from Bury to Rawtenstall and back, meeting Father Christmas, elves and other characters on the train.
It’s been an interesting year for the East Lancashire Railway and its relationship to Rossendale. Investment in Rawtenstall station, thanks to collaboration with Rossendale Council, has improved ‘our end’ of the line, but the ELR’s refusal to entertain the idea of regular commuter services running from here is a big worry to local political leaders.
They know that for Rossendale to thrive in the future, it needs better public transport links and, for maybe the first time in a decade, there’s a real chance the Government might fund more speculative railway work. But it needs the support of the ELR.
Could 2022 also be the year when the ELR does more to ensure Rossendale sees some of the benefits Bury does from having the ELR?
At the moment, nearly all events and specials begin at Bury, arrive in Rawtenstall, and then head straight back to
Bury. For many passengers, Rossendale is a nice bit of a scenery.
Rawtenstall has the parking space, the attractions and the shops to really be promoted as the place to start your journey on the ELR.
Maybe next year, Santa could start his specials here instead?