Date: 23/02/2022

Broadcaster and former senior politician Michael Portillo has added his voice to the campaign to reopen a rail link which would provide a direct route from Keighley into Lancashire.

The presenter of the popular BBC series, Great British Railway Journeys, has pledged to feature a reopened Skipton-Colne line in the programme.

Campaigners have long been calling for the 12-mile route, which closed in 1970, to be restored.

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Related images

Ivatt 2-6-0 46440 entering Colne from Skipton in June 1952.
Location: Colne
Company: Accrington, Burnley and Colne Branch (East Lancashire Railway)
24/06/1952 G H Robin collection by courtesy of the Mitchell Library, Glasgow

Basic facilities at Colne in August 1977 looking south west towards Nelson. The station was by then a terminus, with the through line to Skipton (behind the camera) having closed in 1970 see image [[38798]].
Location: Colne
Company: Accrington, Burnley and Colne Branch (East Lancashire Railway)
/08/1977 Ian Dinmore

Site of the former carriage sidings at Colne in November 2007, with the entrance to an old air-raid shelter standing alongside.
Location: Colne
Company: Accrington, Burnley and Colne Branch (East Lancashire Railway)
09/11/2007 John McIntyre

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Tags: x Michael Portillo x Skipton x Colne