A MAJOR study funded by the Countryside Agency has come out in favour of re-opening the railway line between Skipton and Colne.

The study looks at all closed railways in the region with a potential for re-opening and lists the Skipton-Colne line as one that should be re-opened within five to 10 years.

David Fanaroff, from the Countryside Agency, said: "The re-instatement of the railway between Skipton and Colne is an important rail proposal."

The study is also a major boost for SELRAP (the Skipton-East Lancashire Rail Action Partnership), which is campaigning to have the old line re-opened.

SELRAP chairman Steve Broadbent said: "The findings of this study reflect our own belief that re-opening this railway would bring real benefits to people across a wide area."

It is the third piece of good news for SELRAP's campaign in the space of a month. In March the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) confirmed a two-mile section of the Skipton-Colne railway trackbed was to remain in railway ownership, protecting it from possible development. A week later, Lancashire and North Yorkshire county councils commissioned a detailed feasibility study into the practicality of the re-opening.

Now the Countryside Agency study has completed the hat trick of good news for those who want to see trains running again from Colne, through West Craven and on to Skipton.

The study reports: "The main local beneficiaries of a Skipton-Colne re-opening would be the residents of Earby and surrounding areas who would then have a link to the wider world, as well as people in the upper North East Lancashire towns (Nelson and Colne) wanting to get to Leeds.

"Skipton is a popular market town and could benefit from a link to North East Lancashire.

"Development of the branch from Skipton to Grassington to access the Yorkshire Dales also has positive implications for the Skipton-Colne line. Grassington was traditionally popular with ramblers from East Lancashire and through services to Grassington in the summer period would significantly improve access."