Why was the Colne - Skipton line removed and why has it never been put back?

[edwin_m]

Do not confuse matters by making reference to anything north of Hadrians Wall when discussing the subject of this thread.

Indeed. Newcastle-Ashington is a very different case...

 

[Bald Rick]

Skipton - Colne has a near iconic status largely because of the unstinting efforts of SELRAP - and good for them. And if it had not ever closed, then it's hard to see anyone suggesting that it should be closed and lifted now.

But it did close, and @Bald Rick 's suggestion of a £400m bill in 2020 pounds doesn't seem unreasonable, which then begs other questions. Is it the right answer to "where's the best place in the UK to spend an incremental £400m on rail?" or even "where's the best place in the NW of England to spend an incremental £400m on rail?". This also doesn't mean it won't happen - BordersRail exists for purely political ends, and if Skipton - Colne could be a quick win (ie, could construction get underway before 2024?) then it may happen. If you want it, lobby your MPs.

There is no chance, none whatsoever, of construction starting by 2024. There would need to be at least 2-3 years of feasibility, development and early design, then another 2-3 years of planning and consents. And then a year post consent for all the pre-construction activities (detail design amendments as a result fo the consents process, land assembly, environmental mitigation, etc). And that all assumes someone has their chequebook open, now, which they don’t, and that it all goes without a hitch, which it won’t.*

*of course it can’t go without a hitch anyway, as it’s not going to happen.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

There is no chance, none whatsoever, of construction starting by 2024. There would need to be at least 2-3 years of feasibility, development and early design, then another 2-3 years of planning and consents. And then a year post consent for all the pre-construction activities (detail design amendments as a result fo the consents process, land assembly, environmental mitigation, etc). And that all assumes someone has their chequebook open, now, which they don’t, and that it all goes without a hitch, which it won’t.*

*of course it can’t go without a hitch anyway, as it’s not going to happen.

Having spent the best part of the day - in researching the potential route , with a senior and well experienced Civil Engineer as part of the ATOC "Connecting Communities" report - a good few years ago - we came to the conclusion that it is in effect a brand new railway , and whilst not impossible (few things are to excellent engineers) - a it more to it than scraping the old formation and getting track laid.

If you look back at comments on the time of closure , one of the challenges in doing passenger counts on the old line, was the distinct lack of patronage. Now there might be good reasons for that in the 1960's , - so is it a case of what the Welsh call "Hiraeth" (deep nostalgia for that which is lost) , or has something really changed up there to make this a golden opportunity which really has to happen ?.

An extant (albeit slightly "broken") railway like Ashington - should have a much better case for restitution - and no doubt there are other deserving cases in the Midlands and North. Another one which gets no press is Aldridge in the West Midlands. My own views of course......

 

[Tobbes]

There is no chance, none whatsoever, of construction starting by 2024. There would need to be at least 2-3 years of feasibility, development and early design, then another 2-3 years of planning and consents. And then a year post consent for all the pre-construction activities (detail design amendments as a result fo the consents process, land assembly, environmental mitigation, etc). And that all assumes someone has their chequebook open, now, which they don’t, and that it all goes without a hitch, which it won’t.*

*of course it can’t go without a hitch anyway, as it’s not going to happen.

I agree with all of that, and since the cynic in me says the DfT will be looking for things to reopen in "the North" before a 2023 or 2024 election, then.... they will have to look elsewhere. It does beg the question of what will be done (because something will have to be...) if there's very little in the development pipeline with the "right" geography -- I'd thought that Skipton - Colne was further along than "nothing".

 

[Bald Rick]

I agree with all of that, and since the cynic in me says the DfT will be looking for things to reopen in "the North" before a 2023 or 2024 election, then.... they will have to look elsewhere. It does beg the question of what will be done (because something will have to be...) if there's very little in the development pipeline with the "right" geography -- I'd thought that Skipton - Colne was further along than "nothing".

Ashington is close to being put in the oven, albeit it’s not oven ready yet. Whilst not in the north, Portishead is in the same category. Skelmersdale is a distinct possibility.