A Yorkshire preserved railway is bidding to reconnect with the National Rail network at Skipton.

The scheme would allow tourists from Leeds and all parts of Britain to visit Bolton Abbey, a gateway to the Yorkshire Dales National Park, by train.

The railway currently operates a heritage service for more than 100,000 visitors and tourists a year from Embsay to Bolton Abbey, which is a popular visitor attraction some 20 miles north west of Leeds and a gateway to the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Embsay station is adjacent to the Swinden Quarry to Skipton freight line and a Network Rail study in 2008 confirmed the feasibility of reconnecting the two lines, which would enable a direct service from Skipton Station to Bolton Abbey to operate.

Now transport planner JMP has been commissioned by the Yorkshire Dales Railway Museum Trust to quantify the benefits of reconnecting the Embsay & Bolton Abbey Railway to the main line network at Skipton which is on the main line from Leeds to the Settle-Carlisle line.

Railway business manager Stephen Walker said the cost of reconnection would be about £1 million to £2.6 million.

The railway would be able to make significant “in-kind” contributions, which would reduce the overall cost.

Andy Ryland of Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority believes the scheme could allow a new station to be built at Swinden Quarry close to Grassington.

The aim would be to provide better access to the national park without a car.

JMP project director, Dr Alan Beswick, said that the rail scheme could help to deal with car parking problems in places such as Skipton.

Information from David Dunckley at dunckley at ddassoc.freeserve.co.uk.

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embsay railway

http://www.boltonabbey.com/