Colne to Skipton rail link feasibility study to begin

8:00am Friday 15th March 2013 in News

A CONSULTANCY firm has been appointed to start a feasibility study in the reinstatement of the Colne to Skipton rail link.

The campaign group SELRAP (Skipton East Lancashire Action Rail Partnership) have commissioned Arup to carry out the first phase of the Grip (Guide to Railway Investment Projects) process.

The study looks at how each project on the National Rail network would operate and whether such a scheme is worth pursuing.

A SELRAP spokesman said: “Highly respected rail transport consultants Arup have been commissioned to do part 1a and 1b of the Grip process. Arup have been described as a blue chip company and are highly respected by the rail industry.

“To progress this feasibility study to stage two the we have recently launched an appeal for funding.

“This is a very positive development for SELRAP to support our aim to see the reinstatement of the rail link between Skipton and Colne. Anyone wishing to support the appeal is asked to send cheques made payable to Selrap to deputy chairman Peter Nowland at 3 Ivegate, Colne, BB8 9BN.”

The Colne to Skipton rail line closed in 1970 and the track was ripped up, but the bed remains in place.

SELRAP would like to see a double electrified line so that a 21st Century rail service can be provided.

The group believes that the Grip study would spell out the technical case for re-opening the line and would provide a stronger argument for securing funding to get the work off the ground.

Comments (6)

1:11pm Fri 15 Mar 13

mavrick says...

Good luck I hope it is successful.
Good luck I hope it is successful. mavrick

2:19pm Fri 15 Mar 13

Reality50 says...

It is badly needed however can't see it ever happening especially in times of austerity and cutbacks. A cheaper alternative is to open the Blackburn Hellifield line 7 days a week rather than just Sundays as it is at present. Trains could reach Skipton in a relative short time and services could start from Colne but go back on itself before going to Clitheroe Hellifield Settle and Skipton. Yes its long winded and would take maybe an hour but it is better than having no service at all or going via Halifax and Leeds which takes nearly 3 hours.
It is badly needed however can't see it ever happening especially in times of austerity and cutbacks. A cheaper alternative is to open the Blackburn Hellifield line 7 days a week rather than just Sundays as it is at present. Trains could reach Skipton in a relative short time and services could start from Colne but go back on itself before going to Clitheroe Hellifield Settle and Skipton. Yes its long winded and would take maybe an hour but it is better than having no service at all or going via Halifax and Leeds which takes nearly 3 hours. Reality50

3:06pm Fri 15 Mar 13

sim1846 says...

Reality50 wrote:
It is badly needed however can't see it ever happening especially in times of austerity and cutbacks. A cheaper alternative is to open the Blackburn Hellifield line 7 days a week rather than just Sundays as it is at present. Trains could reach Skipton in a relative short time and services could start from Colne but go back on itself before going to Clitheroe Hellifield Settle and Skipton. Yes its long winded and would take maybe an hour but it is better than having no service at all or going via Halifax and Leeds which takes nearly 3 hours.
I do like your thought on this one, but the BCR could poss be to low, the main point to getting the Colne to Skipton Rail Line reopened again, isn't just for local passenger traffic, but inter regional as well as freight, and it has been just pointed out that our line could well be part of an important freight line, due to the need for what they call Inland Ports, our line sits where these ports need to be, and the line has the lowest gradient over the Pennines.

The regional importance of this line is the fact it will be far quicker for those that live between Shipley and Skipton, to get through to Manchester, Man Airport, Liverpool, and Preston.

As well as giving direct links for those living within East Lancashire quick links to the Bradford, Leeds, City Regions, with the line going via Clitheroe it would not benefit anyone in Earby, Barnoldswick of Foulridge, I also know that their are no major conurbations between Clitheroe and Skipton,

Funding, SELRAP is fully aware of available funding pots, and at the min their are about 3, as well as private investment being available, all this is subject to the GRIP 3 report coming out in favor of the rail project, I am sure all will be on the table within the next 4 months.
[quote][p][bold]Reality50[/bold] wrote: It is badly needed however can't see it ever happening especially in times of austerity and cutbacks. A cheaper alternative is to open the Blackburn Hellifield line 7 days a week rather than just Sundays as it is at present. Trains could reach Skipton in a relative short time and services could start from Colne but go back on itself before going to Clitheroe Hellifield Settle and Skipton. Yes its long winded and would take maybe an hour but it is better than having no service at all or going via Halifax and Leeds which takes nearly 3 hours.[/p][/quote]I do like your thought on this one, but the BCR could poss be to low, the main point to getting the Colne to Skipton Rail Line reopened again, isn't just for local passenger traffic, but inter regional as well as freight, and it has been just pointed out that our line could well be part of an important freight line, due to the need for what they call Inland Ports, our line sits where these ports need to be, and the line has the lowest gradient over the Pennines. The regional importance of this line is the fact it will be far quicker for those that live between Shipley and Skipton, to get through to Manchester, Man Airport, Liverpool, and Preston. As well as giving direct links for those living within East Lancashire quick links to the Bradford, Leeds, City Regions, with the line going via Clitheroe it would not benefit anyone in Earby, Barnoldswick of Foulridge, I also know that their are no major conurbations between Clitheroe and Skipton, Funding, SELRAP is fully aware of available funding pots, and at the min their are about 3, as well as private investment being available, all this is subject to the GRIP 3 report coming out in favor of the rail project, I am sure all will be on the table within the next 4 months. sim1846

3:22pm Fri 15 Mar 13

Noiticer says...

A service from Colne to Skipton via Hellifield!! Get a GRIP on the logic of this idea when there are at least three buses an hour from Colne to Skipton. Pure fantasy. Even a Blackburn -Skipton service would be ridiculous in terms of time and rolling stock required.
The only hope is a Colne - Skipton rail link but, sadly, because we live in England and not Wales or Scotland, where the devolved parliaments have the cash and determination to revitalise former rail corridors, the distant parliament in London isn't interested in the transport backwater of NE Lancashire controlled by a county council which hasn't the cash or power to support the rail re-openings on this scale.
A service from Colne to Skipton via Hellifield!! Get a GRIP on the logic of this idea when there are at least three buses an hour from Colne to Skipton. Pure fantasy. Even a Blackburn -Skipton service would be ridiculous in terms of time and rolling stock required. The only hope is a Colne - Skipton rail link but, sadly, because we live in England and not Wales or Scotland, where the devolved parliaments have the cash and determination to revitalise former rail corridors, the distant parliament in London isn't interested in the transport backwater of NE Lancashire controlled by a county council which hasn't the cash or power to support the rail re-openings on this scale. Noiticer

8:12pm Fri 15 Mar 13

coates warder says...

the bed may still be there but the bridges are not.rebuilding these alone will be a fortune. we keep seeing people say it will benefit here and there.but have no detail how.also what about the land behind broughton hall and the land near the river aire that floods for fun and sinking.i think this is nothing more than an expensive dream.also have you seen the price of trains today...some people say it will take cars off the road.i cant see it at all.but i am willing for someone to change my mind but no one from selrap seems to want to convince us all
the bed may still be there but the bridges are not.rebuilding these alone will be a fortune. we keep seeing people say it will benefit here and there.but have no detail how.also what about the land behind broughton hall and the land near the river aire that floods for fun and sinking.i think this is nothing more than an expensive dream.also have you seen the price of trains today...some people say it will take cars off the road.i cant see it at all.but i am willing for someone to change my mind but no one from selrap seems to want to convince us all coates warder

8:23am Sat 16 Mar 13

sim1846 says...

coates warder wrote:
the bed may still be there but the bridges are not.rebuilding these alone will be a fortune. we keep seeing people say it will benefit here and there.but have no detail how.also what about the land behind broughton hall and the land near the river aire that floods for fun and sinking.i think this is nothing more than an expensive dream.also have you seen the price of trains today...some people say it will take cars off the road.i cant see it at all.but i am willing for someone to change my mind but no one from selrap seems to want to convince us all
Just because some of the rail bridges have gone, does not mean you can't put all railway back, what a daft thought.

Benefits, well please do look at all the Document available to you, I have said this many time before to people on here, but still have people like you saying their are no details, yes there are, and have been for some time now, please go to the SELRAP website to view all the evidence, and support for the project, which includes the support from over 500 Councils, and many more.

No one from SELRAP seems to want to convince us all, Hmm, well your also wrong on that front, all you need to do is look at all the available documents from their website.

The Project once again is not just about linking Skipton to Colne for local people, but it's for a new East West rail link for the whole region, many of the Links over the Pennines are at full or near close to capacity, and our line will be the most cost effective to operate over the Pennines, due to the fact it have no major tunnels, deep embankments, or steep gradient.

Freight is also in the mix here, and a number of large companies have approached SELRAP with plans to develop the line for this, which would create lots of jobs in the area, having the need for Inland ports is a must, and a number o.f sites have been looked at, including Earby, and Burnley
[quote][p][bold]coates warder[/bold] wrote: the bed may still be there but the bridges are not.rebuilding these alone will be a fortune. we keep seeing people say it will benefit here and there.but have no detail how.also what about the land behind broughton hall and the land near the river aire that floods for fun and sinking.i think this is nothing more than an expensive dream.also have you seen the price of trains today...some people say it will take cars off the road.i cant see it at all.but i am willing for someone to change my mind but no one from selrap seems to want to convince us all[/p][/quote]Just because some of the rail bridges have gone, does not mean you can't put all railway back, what a daft thought. Benefits, well please do look at all the Document available to you, I have said this many time before to people on here, but still have people like you saying their are no details, yes there are, and have been for some time now, please go to the SELRAP website to view all the evidence, and support for the project, which includes the support from over 500 Councils, and many more. No one from SELRAP seems to want to convince us all, Hmm, well your also wrong on that front, all you need to do is look at all the available documents from their website. The Project once again is not just about linking Skipton to Colne for local people, but it's for a new East West rail link for the whole region, many of the Links over the Pennines are at full or near close to capacity, and our line will be the most cost effective to operate over the Pennines, due to the fact it have no major tunnels, deep embankments, or steep gradient. Freight is also in the mix here, and a number of large companies have approached SELRAP with plans to develop the line for this, which would create lots of jobs in the area, having the need for Inland ports is a must, and a number o.f sites have been looked at, including Earby, and Burnley sim1846

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