Councillor Andrew Judson (Reform, Keighley West), the deputy leader of Bradford Council, raised the possible return of the 12-mile rail line at a meeting this week. Campaigners say the reopening of the Skipton-Colne rail route, which has been shut since 1970. would create huge economic benefits for the area, providing a direct rail link between the two towns and better transport routes between Lancashire and Yorkshire for commuters. Following the update, Cllr Judson said: “This is a little bit outside our area, but in the interests of Northern regeneration has this authority publicly backed the re-opening of the South East Lancashire rail line? “This is a stretch of line between Colne and Skipton, so we’ve got a direct line then from Manchester to Skipton. He asked if anyone at WYCA had spoken to Skipton and East Lancashire Rail Action Partnership (SELRAP), a group dedicated to the re-opening of the line.