Could commuter trains finally run on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway?

Running commuter trains on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway has been a pipe dream for over a decade.
The Keighley and Worth Valley Railway are interested in running a mainline commuter service alongside heritage trains aimed at touristsThe Keighley and Worth Valley Railway are interested in running a mainline commuter service alongside heritage trains aimed at tourists
The Keighley and Worth Valley Railway are interested in running a mainline commuter service alongside heritage trains aimed at tourists

In the past 15 years there have been several attempts to explore passenger demand for daily mainline services to and from Keighley Station for commuters living along the heritage line, which operates steam and vintage diesel services for visitors on 220 days of the year.

Now, the Department for Transport has confirmed that the scheme will be given further consideration as part of the Restoring Railways Ideas Fund. If approved by an expert panel, £50,000 will be awarded to go towards a feasibility study into the viability of commuter trains between Oxenhope, Haworth and Keighley.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad
Pacers in storage at Keighley Station during the lockdown periodPacers in storage at Keighley Station during the lockdown period
Pacers in storage at Keighley Station during the lockdown period

The branch line closed in 1961 - slightly before the Beeching cuts period - but a group of enthusiasts fought for its preservation as a heritage railway, and it retained its platforms at Keighley Station.

Although it was originally suggested that a train operating company would be given the contract to run services - most likely Northern - the Keighley and Worth Valley's chairman Dr Matt Stroh believes it would be logistically more efficient for the heritage line to take on operations themselves using their preserved diesel locomotives.

Dr Stroh has expressed caution over the plans, however, pointing out that they would require financial subsidies and that the timetable must complement tourist-orientated heritage workings on the route to protect the railway's character and income.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"We already have all the infrastructure in place, and we are a key part of Haworth's visitor economy. We have taken part in feasibility studies in the past about opening the line up for commuting, but it would need a subsidy, capital expenditure and a fleet of vehicles."

A commuter service would run during the morning and evening peaks throughout the year, including in the winter months when the railway is closed to tourists.

"We could use our own diesel stock, but we would need funding to maintain the locomotives so that they can be used seven days a week. We would also need a suitable storage facility.

"If we were providing services every day, we would have less access to the track for maintenance work, which we currently undertake during the months when we aren't open. It all adds pressure on resources and we would need to be compensated for that.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"At this moment in time, with the challenges we face with re-opening after the lockdown, we don't want this to be a distraction. Any future commuter service would need to fit with the heritage operation. We have built too much up over the years to give up the preservation side of things."

The feasibility study would ascertain whether there would be enough usage from residents living in the heritage line's catchment area to justify funding a service that would enable onward connections to Leeds and Bradford via Keighley.

"Keighley Station is a real success story in the north and usage has increased - there is also investment in other stations on the Airedale Line such as Crossflatts. Getting from places like Oxenhope and Haworth to Keighley is a challenge at the moment.

"The demand models tend to draw circles around each station and calculate how many people live nearby, but in our case, the railway was originally built from mill to mill, not village to village, so the stations are not always that close to the villages. We have anecdotal evidence that there is demand and there is frustration among people who want to access an integrated network, but it all needs substantiating.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"When these proposals were first suggested years ago, it was assumed that we would welcome a TOC such as Northern to run the services. Since then we've re-evaluated, and we would rather explore running them ourselves using our own stock. It will be far easier and it would harmonise the two roles of the line.

"If it doesn't happen, we will at least know we've dipped our toes into the water again. It's good to see some ambition from the government, and it could be exactly what we need if the funding is there and it blends with the heritage aspect."

The Keighley and Worth Valley proposal is one of seven schemes in Yorkshire that will be considered by an expert panel later this summer. Approved bids will receive £50,000 each to go towards consultancy fees for a feasibility study.

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.