THE next meeting of the group campaigning for the reopening of the Colne to Skipton rail line will be on Monday September 9.

It follows Labour’s shadow transport spokesman Andy McDonald throwing his weight behind the trans-Pennine project earlier this month.

Northern Powerhouse minister Jake Berry has also made clear the government’s continuing commitment to exploring the feasibility of the project despite the departure from the Cabinet of former Transport Secretary Chris Grayling from the government.

He was a strong supporter of the scheme.

The meeting of the Skipton-East Lancashire Rail Action Partnership (SELRAP) will be at The Crown Hotel in Albert Road, Colne, and starts at 7pm.

Interested members of the public are welcome to attend.

Pendle Liberal Democrat peer and Colne councillor Lord Tony Greaves, who hopes to be at the meeting, said: “It is important that the latest feasibility study goes ahead to push this campaign to the next stage now Mr Grayling has left the Cabinet.

“I think there is a good chance of re-opening the route provided the case for a freight line can be made.

“However there is still a lot of work to be done to make it happen.”