A crucial conference for railway supporters has been organised to take place in Skipton next month to press home claims for the re-opening of the 11.5 miles of track linking Yorkshire and Lancashire which was closed – allegedly by accident – in the 1960s.

The line was once a key link between the North of England’s two great industrial power houses and its closure means that to get from North Yorkshire to the North West, passengers first have to travel east to Leeds to catch westbound connections.

The line survived the great railway purge ordered by Dr Beeching in 1963 but was later close down because, supporters allege, someone at the then British Railways misread the map!

Volunteers of the Skipton-East Lancashire Rail Action Partnership have been campaigning for years for the line to be re-opened and have now collected powerful support from 150 MPs, 37 UK MEPs, 56 peers and 220 councils across the north of England plus the CBI, Chambers of Commerce, all three rail unions, and several NGO's.

Organisers hope that the conference, to be addressed by several MPs and other interested bodies, will provide the final push to get the line re-opened. It is to be held at Herriot’s Hotel, Skipton, on Friday, November 6.

• There is a £20.00 fee [inc buffet lunch/tea/coffee] for anyone wishing to attend. Contact Conference Delegate Coordinator, Peter Nowland, on email conference@selrap.org.uk or tel. 01282 871659 / 07814 596297