A councillor is calling for a feasibility study into the possibility of a heritage railway running a commuter service - turning the clock back more then 30 years.

Oxenhope Parish Councillor Mike Ellis is planning to meet officers from Bradford Council to explore the chances of the Keighley Worth Valley Railway running regular commuter trains between Keighley and Oxenhope.

The railway at present runs a service at weekends, on weekdays during the spring and summer, and during the Christmas holidays using volunteer staff.

It was last used as a commuter railway by British Rail in the early 1960s before it was axed under the Beeching cuts and taken over by Keighley and Worth Valley Railway in 1968.

If it was reopened to commuters, diesel units would be used because steam trains take four hours to prepare for service.

Coun Ellis said: "The success of such a project depends on finance. Grants could be available such as the Government's Rural Bus Grant.

"We have an excellent railway in the Worth Valley.

"I don't expect the KWVR can maintain such a commuter service but there is no reason why a service can't be set up if the money is there.''

He said it be would be an ideal way to discourage people from using their cars because the award-winning private railway connects directly with Keighley station and trains to Leeds, Bradford and London.

"We must think of the future when it will get more and more costly to use a car,'' he added.

"Buses from Oxenhope don't go anywhere. You have to get a bus to Keighley and either get on another or walk to the railway station.

"Common sense tells you that a commercial commuter service would be a good idea. It would mean many people would not drive to Keighley station.

"This would help cut down traffic and pollution."

Graham Mitchell, chairman of Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, said: "If someone came to us with a funding revenue source, then we could seriously look at it.

"It is a wonderful idea but who is going to pay the wages of the staff we would have to employ?

"The minimum we would require is five - a driver, guard, two crossing keepers and a manager

" If we ran an early and a late service we would have to double that for shift duty.''

He said it was a complex issue which would involve getting a "safety case'' from the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions allowing the service to run.

He said the railway had rejected a scheme put forward by Keighley & District Travel about three years ago involving the bus company leasing the line and rail stock from the railway.

It was turned down because the railway wanted to keep full control.

Mr Mitchell said he would welcome an invitation to meet Coun Ellis and Bradford Council staff to look into the proposal.

"At this stage we can rule nothing in but neither do I want to rule anything out,'' he added.

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