‘Alternative rail line through Pennines could have multiple…

‘Alternative rail line through Pennines could have multiple benefits for Bradford’

AN ALTERNATIVE railway line through the Pennines would have “multiple benefits” for passengers in areas such as Bradford, a meeting heard.

Campaigners are “reasonably optimistic” that plans to reopen the Skipton to Colne rail link will receive Government support and could be as high as “third in the queue” nationally.

And a rail expert has urged people not to think of the scheme as merely “opening a little branch line” but to see in a wider context as part of a “high quality link” between the West Yorkshire cities of Leeds and Bradford and Lancashire destinations such as Preston and Blackpool.

The current route from Blackpool via Hebden Bridge to Bradford and Leeds is “very slow” and people want a second route via Skipton “because it would be quicker”, the latest meeting of Skipton East Lancashire Rail Action Partnership (SELRAP) heard.

SELRAP says recent talks since July’s general election raise hope about reinstating the 12-mile link between Yorkshire and Lancashire.

Their long-term aim is to expand connections from west to east, including for Blackpool, Preston, Liverpool, Bradford, Leeds and Hull, through a new Skipton-Colne section. The link closed in the 1970s.

SELRAP’s latest meeting in Colne heard that key factors include rising demand for extra freight trains serving northern ports, industry and North Sea carbon capture projects. This involves industrial emissions being treated and stored underground.

Energy firm Drax, which has a power station near Selby and other renewable projects, backs the Skipton-Colne campaign for freight needs. East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce and Skipton Building Society also support it. 

SELRAP said there is now a greater government focus on national housing, climate change and energy issues along with improving regional economies, infrastructure and inequalities.

Speakers included Steve Broadbent, from Ilkley; a retired journalist for Rail magazine who also worked with regional train firms.

He said: “The new government could get a lot of good news by running a rail line through deprived areas for not much money.  There aren’t a lot of rail openings but there are some developments, such as the Leamside line between Newcastle and County Durham. That’s been talked about for years. Now the government is talking about reopening it with the Tees Valley Combined Authority. That’s important.  We can be reasonable optimistic that SELRAP is in the queue.  Maybe third?”

A meeting in Bradford in August was a key development for Colne to Skipton, he said. “It was re-arranged so Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe could attend. She is the leader of Bradford City Council, transport committee chairperson at West Yorkshire Combined Authority and important at Transport for the North (TfN).

“I understand she has been asking for more information and briefing herself about the implications for West Yorkshire regarding Skipton to Colne. She would not have attended unless she thinks this is a good idea. And she has links to Tracy Brabin, West Yorkshire’s Mayor, another key person.”

He added: “Some people will have gone to that Bradford meeting, thinking it was about opening a little branch line. It is not. It was about a high quality link between Leeds, Preston and Blackpool. The current service from Blackpool via Hebden Bridge to Bradford and Leeds is very slow.  For a long time, people have wanted a second route via Skipton because it would be quicker.”

He also said a new train depot is being built at Shipley, because of activities further south at Neville Hill in Leeds for Northern Powerhouse line improvements between Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds. Potentially, the Colne-Skipton link could be assisted by this and Northern Powerhouse rail funding too, he suggested.  Train and infrastructure firms want to keep line closures, known as ‘possessions’, for upgrades to a minimum. If Colne-Skipton’s reopening offered an alternative route through the Pennines, there could be multiple benefits.

He said other key developments include train disputes being settled and the Rail and Urban Transport Review to get rail projects delivered faster and cheaper.

Also rail companies are gradually being taken into public ownership and the Passenger Railways Service (Public Ownership) Bill is progressing in Westminster.  He said: “The three big services coming into Leeds are all under public ownership – TransPennine, Northern and LNER. Others will join over time. It’s a major step forward.”

Regarding MPs, he said: “Jonathan Hinder, the new Clitheroe and Pendle MP, mentioned Skipton to Colne in his maiden speech and the slowness of services westwards. That was a good speech. Also important.” Other positive meetings have included Robbie Moore,  Conservative MP for Keighley and Ilkley.