A Westminster Hall debate on the 'Proposed reinstatement of the Colne to Skipton railway link’ has been scheduled for Tuesday 29 October 2019 from 9.30-11.00 am. The debate has been initiated by Graham P Jones MP.
The 11.5mile railway link between Skipton and Colne closed in February 1970 as the passenger service was considered uneconomic and the Government had in 1968 declined to provide a subsidy.
A long-running campaign has proposed the reinstatement of the link. In October 2019 the Government announced that the proposal had reached the ‘decision to initiate’ stage of the Government’s Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline. However, this does not guarantee implementation; further assessments will be carried out to determine whether the scheme can be made affordable, will attract sufficient traffic and is part of the right long-term solution for all trans-Pennine rail traffic.
i) Articles/Press notices/Reports
Colne to Skipton rail link: what the problems are, Lancashire Evening Telegraph, 25 October 2019
Positive signal change in bid to reopen Colne to Skipton line, Burnley Express, 18 October 2019
Rail network enhancements pipeline: autumn 2019 update, DfT, October 2019
Shadow transport secretary promises East Lancashire rail upgrade, Rail Technology, 13 August 2019
Reopening the Skipton-Colne rail line: The ‘Northern Link’ project prospectus, SELRAP, September 2018
Time To Invest In Rail, Addleshaw Goddard LLP, 24 May 2018
A new study into the potential reopening of a historic rail line linking Lancashire and Yorkshire has been announced by Secretary of State for Transport, Chris Grayling, Transport for the North, 6 February 2018
New study into revival of Skipton to Colne rail link, DfT, 3 February 2018
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to his Department’s policy paper, Rail network enhancements pipeline: autumn 2019 update, published on 16 October 2019, when he plans to publish the (a) timescales and (b) costs for the development of those schemes, WPQ, House of Commons, 24 October 2019
Railways: Trans-Pennine Freight, OPQ, House of Lords, 7 October 2019
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Government supports the reinstatement of the rail link between Skipton and Colne, WPQ, House of Commons, 3 September 2019
Colne to Skipton Railway, Westminster Hall Debate, 26 April 2017
Skipton East Lancashire Rail Action Partnership, EDM 479 2012-13
Colne to Skipton Railway Line, Westminster Hall Debate, 12 January 2005
iii)Websites
Disused Stations – Skipton to Colne
SELRAP – Skipton and East Lancs Rail Action Partnership
Network Rail, train operators and British Transport Police all have a significant role in responding to and reducing suicides on the rail network. Local and national highway authorities have a similar role on the road network.
This Bill would nationalise franchised passenger railway services when existing contracts with private sector operators come to an end.
An overview of the Government's and opposition's plans for reforming the railway in Great Britain
