Beeching Reversal – Restoration Of A Daily Train Service On The Keighley & Worth Valley Railway
This is one of the Beeching Reversal projects that the Government and Network Rail are proposing to reverse some of the Beeching cuts.
The route starts at Keighley station, which is shown in this Google Map.
Keighley station is effectively a double station.
- The Northern pair of platforms are the electrified Airedale Line, which runs between Leeds and Bradford Forster Square stations in the East to Skipton station in the North-West.
- Curving up from the South is the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, which runs through the Worth Valley to Oxenhope station.
The basic plan appears to be to run daily passenger services on the heritage railway between Keighley and Oxenhope via Haworth.
But there is a lot more than meets the eye.
Commuter Use
The Wikipedia entry of the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway has a section called Commuter Use, where this is said.
On weekends – in particular Saturday mornings, local residents who live in Oxenhope, Haworth, Oakworth and Ingrow catch the early morning diesel service to Keighley, returning later on steam hauled services. During the weekday outside of the summer months, locals instead use the local bus services.
It then says that studies have been done to investigate the railway’s use as a commuter route.
Heritage Use
There are attractions in the area to attract everybody.
In addition to the major centres of Leeds and Bradford, these stations are worth a visit for the sites they serve.
Haworth for the Brontes
Saltaire for the World Heritage Site of Salts Mill and the Hockneys.
Skipton for the Settle and Carlisle Railway.
LNER To Skipton
LNER run a single daily service to Skipton, that calls at Keighley and Shipley and it is rumoured on Wikipedia, that they would like to run more services.
My feeling, is that the company wants to run pairs of five-car Class 800 or Class 801 trains to Leeds, where they will split and go on to places like Bradford, Harrogate, Huddersfield and Skipton.
Skipton And Colne
This project appears to be a favourite of Governments, as I suspect it solves problems across the North. I last wrote about it in May this year in Colne – Skipton Reopening Moves Closer.
Short Breaks In Yorkshire
Is Yprkshire and Leeds and Bradford in particular, making a bit for the short break market?
It all fits!
What Needs To Be Added To The Keighley And Worth Valley Railway?
If the railway is going to run a regular commuter or tourist service on the route between Keighley and Oxenhope, the following issues must be covered.
Rolling Stock
The railway has an extensive collection of rolling stock, which include a couple of diesel multiple units, that should be able to handle the service.
I would think, that if they wanted something more modern with a heritage feel, that a battery electric version of one of Vivarail’s Class 230 trains would fit the bill. They could run using Vivarail’s Pop-up Metro concept.
Stations
The stations on the railway seem to be in good condition, but I’m sure to handle commuters for Leeds and Bradford, there may be some updating required.
Ticketing
There must be through ticketing.
Conclusion
I don’t feel that this would be the most expensive of schemes, as the major expense of an interchange station between the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway and the Airedale Line is already built.
The Anonymous Widower 