Study to look at railway line through Keighley as major trans-Pennine route

The initiative will examine options for future development of the Bentham Line, which includes the Airedale route through Keighley.

The study has been commissioned by the Leeds-Morecambe Community Rail Partnership.

And it is being carried out by Stantec UK Ltd, together with Allen Rail, which have recently been engaged in a number of railway restoration bids in the north-west of England.

Current usage of the line will be evaluated and an assessment made of its potential for development as a major link serving communities between Leeds and Bradford and the coast at Morecambe and Heysham – via its route that includes Keighley, Skipton, Bentham and Lancaster.

Stantec project manager, Steven Reid, said: "We are delighted to be working on this exciting project to establish a long-term vision and options for the future development of the Bentham Line.

"We understand that this is the first piece of work of its kind by a community rail partnership and it provides an opportunity to develop a community-led approach to enhancing the offer on this historic line."

David Prescott, director at Allen Rail, said he had a long-held link with the line and was delighted to be working on the project.

"I was responsible for the line when I was regional railways’ marketing manager at York in the late 1980s," he said.

"At that time we developed line guide leaflets with partner organisations, so I feel a personal link over the years and I'm pleased to be back!"

Considerable preliminary work for the venture has been carried out by David Alder, treasurer of the Leeds-Morecambe Community Rail Partnership.

He said: "The timing of this work fits well with the worldwide concerns about global warming and associated environmental attitudes on fuel use.

"The challenges of the pandemic have meant that many former travel arrangements need to be revisited. Our partnership sincerely hopes that it will be able to change perceptions and promote a rethinking of the role the scenic route of the Bentham Line can serve.

"Given the vision embodied in the Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail, it is the right time to look for the Bentham Line to be taken as an even more vital part of the transport network which can help link communities and improve travel for leisure, recreation, education and commercial customers."

Rod Tickner, of Keighley, who is vice-chair of the partnership, said: "This study encompasses the whole length from coast through the country to the city. We want to champion the line's use as an alternative trans-Pennine rail link. Already it is used by many passengers for leisure journeys and by university and college students travelling between North and West Yorkshire and North Lancashire and South Cumbria, and vice versa, but we believe that there are untapped markets for travel in both directions."

Gerald Townson, the partnership's chair, says the study is community-orientated and it is keen to hear from anyone with an interest in the line and public transport generally.

He added: "A vital part of the study will involve obtaining the views of both existing and potential stakeholders, communities on and near the line and individuals. If you have a genuine interest in public transport and in particular the Bentham Line – and would like to see the route fulfil its true potential – then we would be pleased to hear from you.

"We would like to engage with diverse groups and individuals who want to encourage rail travel for a wide range of opportunities and tackle transport needs, with particular regard to current environmental issues. The route has the potential to be invaluable for so many initiatives."

The partnership has put its own funding and resources into the study but it has also obtained "substantial" grants from the Community Rail Network – the umbrella body for community rail partnerships – and from the Seed Corn Fund, administered by Northern Trains Ltd.

Tony Baxter, regional director at Northern, said: "Our customers are at the heart of all we do and we always welcome opportunities to talk about potential improvements which would make a positive impact for them and the communities we serve. We are pleased to be able to help fund the study and now look forward to future conversations to explore the outcomes."

The project is also welcomed by North Yorkshire County Council.

County Councillor Don Mackenzie, executive member for access, said: "We fully support the innovative approach that the community rail partnership responsible for the Leeds-Skipton-Bentham-Lancaster-Morecambe railway line is taking to develop the case for future investment along the route. It is a very timely development, which is in keeping with the work of the North Yorkshire Rural Commission report. We would encourage as many residents as possible to take part in the survey."

The study is due for completion early next year and its findings will then form the basis for future discussions with the Department of Transport, Network Rail, regional transport bodies and train operators about developing the line’s strategic role.

Further information about the study can be found at thebenthamline.co.uk.

To take part, visit forms.office.com/r/gq1w7dCgn2.

The partnership can be contacted at the Station Building, Bentham LA2 7LF.