Talks in the Commons over East Lancashire to North Yorkshire rail link

2:00pm Monday 10th December 2012 in News

Andrew Stephenson MP Andrew Stephenson MP

RAIL campaigners seeking to unite East Lancashire and North Yorkshire have secured talks with a government minister.

Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson has brokered discussions between SELRAP (Skipton-East Lancashire Rail Action Partnership) and rail minister Simon Burns next month.

Council officials from Lancashire and North Yorkshire will also be involved in the House of Commons meeting.

Mr Stephenson has also drafted an Early Day Motion in Parliament, supporting SELRAP’s aim of reopening the closed line beyond Colne, which has been signed by 34 MPs.

Supporters have been urged to take heart from recent developments which have seen work progressing on the planned reinstatement of the Todmorden Curve.

This will see more services using Burnley Manchester Road station and should have knock-on benefits for Colne, delegates at the latest SELRAP conference in Skipton were told.

The conference had been called to decide on the future direction to be taken by the lobbying group, which has the backing of 195 MPs, 101 peers, two-thirds of UK MEPs and 505 district or county councils.

MEP Brian Simpson, who chaired the event, said SELRAP was at a ‘crossroads’ and must seek out ways in which members could progress their aims.

Comments(10)

Reality50 says...
2:11pm Mon 10 Dec 12

SELRAP have campaigned for years and got nowhere and a chat with a junior minister probably won't get far. That line needs to be reopened for a variety of reasons and the economic benefit to Skipton Burnley and to a lesser degree Barnoldswick and Colne will be huge. It will also give passengers an easier route than the two current alternatives which are time consuming via Manchester and Leeds or via Lancaster. I have little faith in SELRAP however and hope the local councils and the rail companies and also put pressure on the government to reopen the line.

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Reality50 says...
2:17pm Mon 10 Dec 12

As for the Tod Curve it was a no brainer as it was just 800 metres of missing track so the cost was minimal however clearing the debris on the 12 mile stretch between Colne and Skipton then sorting the cables and relaying the track would cost tens of millions and I am sceptical in times of austerity it will get the go ahead. A cheaper alternative would be to open permanent up the Clitheroe to Settle line instead. That line currently is open but only on a Sunday for a couple of tourist trains but opening that line 7 days a week and connecting Clitheroe to both Skipton and Lancaster would be a feasible option and I suspect a more likely one.

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Izanears says...
4:27pm Mon 10 Dec 12

Isn't it about time Selrap wrapped this daft idea up. It is a no brainer. Just imagine what Vivary Way would be like when level crossing gates were opening and shutting all the time. The delays are enough now, heaven only knows what they will be like if the railway opens. Oh and please don't tell me that there will be a massive reduction in vehicles if the line is opened. It is all pie in the sky.

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woolywords says...
5:16pm Mon 10 Dec 12

It is a little known fact that Michael Portillo was responsible for keeping the Carlisle to Settle line open when it was threatened with closure after years of neglect. He had the unenviable task of convincing Margaret Thatcher of all people and managed a mere miracle. More recently he has claimed that he is more than a little proud of that achievement.
Just an idea but he might be the man to go to bat for you in your campaign.
Good luck with it, anyhow.

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mavrick says...
6:30pm Mon 10 Dec 12

Reality50 wrote:
As for the Tod Curve it was a no brainer as it was just 800 metres of missing track so the cost was minimal however clearing the debris on the 12 mile stretch between Colne and Skipton then sorting the cables and relaying the track would cost tens of millions and I am sceptical in times of austerity it will get the go ahead. A cheaper alternative would be to open permanent up the Clitheroe to Settle line instead. That line currently is open but only on a Sunday for a couple of tourist trains but opening that line 7 days a week and connecting Clitheroe to both Skipton and Lancaster would be a feasible option and I suspect a more likely one.
Very true, This was discussed a few years ago when the Blackburn = Hellifield line was reopened. But it was not on the radar of the train companies or the governments. It was a great opportunity missed.

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George White Bread says...
8:42pm Mon 10 Dec 12

Reality50 wrote:
As for the Tod Curve it was a no brainer as it was just 800 metres of missing track so the cost was minimal however clearing the debris on the 12 mile stretch between Colne and Skipton then sorting the cables and relaying the track would cost tens of millions and I am sceptical in times of austerity it will get the go ahead. A cheaper alternative would be to open permanent up the Clitheroe to Settle line instead. That line currently is open but only on a Sunday for a couple of tourist trains but opening that line 7 days a week and connecting Clitheroe to both Skipton and Lancaster would be a feasible option and I suspect a more likely one.
It's simple, you get all the scumbags on community service to clear the trees and other foliage ftom the track bed, that's bound to save a few million.

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2 for 5p says...
11:29pm Mon 10 Dec 12

selrep or whatever bonkers name you call yourselves just try thinking, it helps .
Do you think for one minute that if this was a sensible proffitable venture there would be companys queing up to invest.
i beg the rail minister to scrap this idea please dont go ahead with it for the sake of the tax payers.

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George White Bread says...
8:51am Tue 11 Dec 12

2 for 5p wrote:
selrep or whatever bonkers name you call yourselves just try thinking, it helps .
Do you think for one minute that if this was a sensible proffitable venture there would be companys queing up to invest.
i beg the rail minister to scrap this idea please dont go ahead with it for the sake of the tax payers.
I think you'll find that the studies commission thus far by professional accredited bodies have shown that it IS a profitable, viable venture. The amount of taxpayers money required would be peanuts in comparison to what this government fritters away, for example 250 million In foreign aid to India who are one of the fastest growing economies in the world and have their own space programme!

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John C. Edwards says...
2:37pm Tue 11 Dec 12

North Yorks CC need to get a move on and give the land over to developers so that this draft idea can be put to bed once and for all.

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Noiticer says...
6:53pm Tue 11 Dec 12

I suppose all those above who oppose SELRAP's ambition will also be against an extension of the M65 - a very enironmentally unfriendly idea compared to reopening the rail route. In an ideal world the whole route between Skipton and Preston would be open and electrified creating a fast, frequent link between Leeds/Bradford and NE Lancs. The electrified line in Airedale has been an outstanding success - just think what the same would do for the population of lancashire's Calder Valley - a transport cul de sac which drags it down economically.

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