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Craven College students join campaign to reopen Skipton-Colne railway

Thursday, 24 September 2026 08:23

Craven College student, Theo is backing the campaign.

Craven College students are joining the campaign to reopen the missing rail link between Skipton and Colne.

Second-year Business and Social Media and Marketing students will work with the Skipton East Lancashire Rail Action Partnership (SELRAP) as part of their studies this term.

They will help raise awareness of the campaign to restore the 12-mile rail connection, including promoting a new petition which is due to launch on 10th October.

SELRAP Chair Andy Dixon said:

“This is a huge boost for our campaign.

“The Colne-Skipton Line's reopening will bring transformational benefits for young people across the North, providing much-needed access to work, education and leisure opportunities, so it's great to involve some of them in making it a reality.”

Around a quarter of Craven College students live in East Lancashire, according to Assistant Principal Duncan Bulloch.

He said:

“Improving public transport links over the border is a priority for us.

“The students are already working up their ideas, particularly how the SELRAP campaign can engage more younger people.

“It's a wonderful opportunity for them to get hands-on experience on such an important, real-life project.”

The partnership was announced at a SELRAP members' meeting in Skipton earlier this month.

Members also heard that the Skipton branch of the RMT union had unanimously backed a motion calling for funding to progress construction of the line “without delay”.

The meeting also heard from Lancaster University PhD researcher Theo Morgan Lundie, who discussed the potential social, economic and environmental benefits of restoring the rail connection.

SELRAP has campaigned for a number of years to restore the railway between Skipton and Colne, reconnecting the existing lines on either side of the Pennines.

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