View source for Ribble Valley line

{{Short description|Railway line in North West England}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox rail line
|box_width   = auto
|name        = Ribble Valley line
|logo        = 
|logo_width  =
|image       = Clitheroe railway station, Lancashire (geograph 4091341).jpg
|image_width = 270px
|caption     = Clitheroe railway station, on the Ribble Valley line
|type        = 
|system      = [[National Rail]]
|status      = Operational
|locale      = [[Lancashire]]<br>[[Greater Manchester]]<br>[[Blackburn]]<br>[[North West England]]
|start       = 
|end         = 
|stations    = 14
|owner       = [[Network Rail]]
|operator    = 
|depot       = 
|stock       = {{plainlist|*{{brc|150}}
*{{brc|156}}
*{{brc|158}}
}}
|linelength  = 
|tracklength = 
|gauge       = {{RailGauge|uksg|allk=on}}
|speed       = 
|elevation   = 
|map         = [[File:Ribble Valley line.png|270px]]<br />([[:commons:File:Ribble Valley line.png|Click to expand]])
|map_state   = expanded
}}
{{Ribble Valley Line|collapse=y}}
[[File:Whalley Viaduct and the River Calder - geograph.org.uk - 1455276.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Whalley Viaduct and the [[River Calder, Lancashire|River Calder]]]]
The '''Ribble Valley line''' is a railway line that runs from {{stn|Manchester Victoria}} through {{rws|Blackburn}}, in [[Lancashire]], to {{rws|Hellifield}} in [[North Yorkshire]]. Regular passenger services normally run as far as {{rws|Clitheroe}}, but occasional passenger services run the whole line through north Lancashire to Hellifield, where there are connections to the [[Settle–Carlisle line|Settle–Carlisle]] and [[Leeds–Morecambe line|Bentham lines.]] The line passes over the distinctive 48-span [[Whalley Viaduct]].

The line north of Blackburn was closed to a regular passenger service from September 1962, but remained open for freight, passenger diversions and the occasional DalesRail service. However, in 1994, services between Blackburn and Clitheroe were reinstated after a public campaign. Reopening the line for passengers between Clitheroe and Hellifield has been mentioned in some reports and newspapers to provide connections on the Settle Carlisle line, with the most recent being a business case for the proposal being granted government funds in 2020.

==Early history==
The Ribble Valley line was built by several different railway companies, all of which later became part of the [[Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway]], and so following the [[1923 Grouping]] the whole line was part of the [[London, Midland and Scottish Railway]].

The southernmost portion of the Ribble Valley line, between {{stnlnk|Salford}} and {{stnlnk|Bolton}}, was built by the [[Manchester and Bolton Railway]], and opened in 1838;{{sfn|Marshall|1969|p=30}} it amalgamated with the [[Manchester and Leeds Railway]] (M&LR) in August 1846;{{sfn|Marshall|1969|p=33}} a connecting line between Salford and {{stnlnk|Manchester Victoria}} was opened in October 1846{{sfn|Marshall|1969|p=58}} and the M&LR amalgamated with other railways in 1847 to form the [[Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway]] (LYR).{{sfn|Marshall|1969|p=65}} The route connecting Salford with Manchester Victoria was improved in 1865.{{sfn|Marshall|1969|p=188}}

{{Infobox UK legislation
| short_title           = Blackburn, Darwen and Bolton Railway Act 1845
| type                  = Act
| parliament            = Parliament of the United Kingdom
| long_title            = An Act for making a Railway from Blackburn to Bolton in the County of Lancaster, to be called "The Blackburn, Darwen, and Bolton Railway."
| year                  = 1845
| citation              = [[8 & 9 Vict.]] c. xliv
| introduced_commons    = 
| introduced_lords      = 
| territorial_extent    = 
| royal_assent          = 30 June 1845
| commencement          = 
| expiry_date           = 
| repeal_date           = 
| amends                = 
| replaces              = 
| amendments            = 
| repealing_legislation = 
| related_legislation   = 
| status                = 
| legislation_history   = 
| theyworkforyou        = 
| millbankhansard       = 
| original_text         = 
| revised_text          = 
| use_new_UK-LEG        = 
| UK-LEG_title          = 
| collapsed             = yes
}}
{{Infobox UK legislation
| short_title           = Blackburn, Darwen and Bolton Railway Act 1846
| type                  = Act
| parliament            = Parliament of the United Kingdom
| long_title            = An Act to enable the Blackburn, Darwen, and Bolton Railway Company to alter the Line of Part of their Railway.
| year                  = 1846
| citation              = [[9 & 10 Vict.]] c. cccx
| introduced_commons    = 
| introduced_lords      = 
| territorial_extent    = 
| royal_assent          = 3 August 1846
| commencement          = 
| expiry_date           = 
| repeal_date           = 
| amends                = 
| replaces              = 
| amendments            = 
| repealing_legislation = 
| related_legislation   = 
| status                = 
| legislation_history   = 
| theyworkforyou        = 
| millbankhansard       = 
| original_text         = 
| revised_text          = 
| use_new_UK-LEG        = 
| UK-LEG_title          = 
| collapsed             = yes
}}
The portion between Bolton and {{stnlnk|Blackburn Bolton Road}} was built by the ''Blackburn, Darwen and Bolton Railway'' (BD&BR). This company was formed on 27 September 1844,{{sfn|Marshall|1969|p=175}} and was authorised by the '''{{visible anchor|Blackburn, Darwen and Bolton Railway Act 1845}}''' ([[8 & 9 Vict.]] c. xliv) on 30 June 1845 to build a line to Blackburn that would connect with the M&BR at Burnden, to the south of Bolton; on 3 August 1846 the route was amended by the '''{{visible anchor|Blackburn, Darwen and Bolton Railway Act 1846}}''' ([[9 & 10 Vict.]] c. cccx) so that the BD&BR could use Bolton station.{{sfn|Marshall|1969|p=176}} Construction commenced at [[Darwen]] on 27 September 1845, and the line was opened between Blackburn and {{stnlnk|Sough}} on 3 August 1847.{{sfn|Marshall|1969|p=178}} Difficulties were experienced in the construction of Sough Tunnel, and also of the Tonge Viaduct, which collapsed during construction, due to timber centrings being moved before the mortar had thoroughly set.{{sfn|Marshall|1969|pp=178, 181}} On 12 June 1848 the remainder of the line between Sough and Bolton was opened.{{sfn|Marshall|1969|p=181}} To accommodate the Blackburn trains, Bolton station was enlarged in 1871; and in 1888 a curve at the north end of Bolton station allowed trains to run between the Preston and Blackburn lines without needing to reverse in the station.{{sfn|Marshall|1969|pp=188–9}}

{{Infobox UK legislation
| short_title           = Blackburn, Clitheroe and North Western Junction Railway Act 1846
| type                  = Act
| parliament            = Parliament of the United Kingdom
| long_title            = An Act for making a Bailvray, with Branches therefrom, in the County of Lancaster and West Riding of the County of York, to be called "The Blackburn, Clitheroe and North-western Junction Railway."
| year                  = 1846
| citation              = [[9 & 10 Vict.]] c. cclxv
| introduced_commons    = 
| introduced_lords      = 
| territorial_extent    = 
| royal_assent          = 27 July 1846
| commencement          = 
| expiry_date           = 
| repeal_date           = 
| amends                = 
| replaces              = 
| amendments            = 
| repealing_legislation = 
| related_legislation   = 
| status                = 
| legislation_history   = 
| theyworkforyou        = 
| millbankhansard       = 
| original_text         = 
| revised_text          = 
| use_new_UK-LEG        = 
| UK-LEG_title          = 
| collapsed             = yes
}}
The route from Blackburn to {{stnlnk|Hellifield}} was also opened in two sections. The ''Blackburn, Clitheroe and North Western Junction Railway'' (BC&NWJR) was authorised by the '''{{visible anchor|Blackburn, Clitheroe and North Western Junction Railway Act 1846}}''' ([[9 & 10 Vict.]] c. cclxv) on 27 July 1846 for a line from a junction with the [[East Lancashire Railway 1844–59|East Lancashire Railway]] (ELR) at Daisyfield, east of Blackburn, to a junction with the [["Little" North Western Railway|North Western Railway]] (NWR) near {{stnlnk|Long Preston}}.{{sfn|Marshall|1969|p=177}} Construction commenced at [[Clitheroe]] on 30 December 1846{{sfn|Marshall|1969|p=178}} but was delayed due to the partial collapse of the Whalley viaduct.{{sfn|Marshall|1969|p=183}} The line was opened between Blackburn and {{stnlnk|Chatburn}} on 21 June 1850,{{sfn|Marshall|1969|p=183}} and on the same day, a short branch to the Old Banks lime works at [[Horrocksford]] was opened.{{sfn|Marshall|1969|pp=177, 187}} Trains used the BD&BR station at Blackburn (Bolton Road), running through [[Blackburn railway station|the ELR station]] in order to reach it.{{sfn|Marshall|1969|pp=183–4}} Initially single track, the line between Daisyfield Junction and Chatburn was doubled in 1872–74.{{sfn|Marshall|1969|p=188}}

In March 1847, the BD&BR and the BC&NWJR agreed to amalgamate, becoming the ''Bolton, Blackburn, Clitheroe and West Yorkshire Railway''; the necessary act of Parliament, the [[Blackburn, Darwen and Bolton Railway Amendment Act 1847]] ([[10 & 11 Vict.]] c. clxiv) received [[royal assent]] on 9 July 1847. The name was shortened to the ''Blackburn Railway'' by a further act of Parliament, the [[Blackburn Railway Act 1851]] ([[14 & 15 Vict.]] c. lxxxix), of 24 July 1851.{{sfn|Marshall|1969|p=178}} In the meantime, the LYR and ELR entered into a working agreement in April 1850, and they began to operate in ways that whilst mutually beneficial, were to the detriment of the Blackburn Railway; for example, the ELR charged the Blackburn Railway a toll equivalent to six miles for the use of three-quarters of a mile of the ELR's line through Blackburn;{{sfn|Marshall|1969|pp=183–4}} and later, LYR services from Manchester to Blackburn were routed via {{stnlnk|Accrington}} instead of Bolton.{{sfn|Marshall|1969|p=184}} During 1856, two extensions to the Blackburn Railway were proposed: one was to continue the line north from Chatburn to the NWR near {{stnlnk|Giggleswick}} (at that time known as Settle); the other would have been from a point to the north of Bolton, between the Croal and Tonge viaducts, to Manchester by way of [[Radcliffe, Greater Manchester|Radcliffe]], [[Whitefield, Greater Manchester|Whitefield]] and [[Cheetham Hill]], and so would have created a line between Bolton and Manchester independent of the LYR. Both of these proposals failed.{{sfn|Marshall|1969|p=185}}

On 1 January 1858, the Blackburn Railway became the joint property of the LYR and ELR (this was not authorised by an act of Parliament until the [[Blackburn Railway Amalgamation Act 1858]] ([[21 & 22 Vict.]] c. cvi) was passed on 12 July 1858).{{sfn|Marshall|1969|p=185}} In 1859, the LYR and ELR themselves amalgamated, the LYR retaining its identity, and so the Blackburn Railway became wholly absorbed by the LYR.{{sfn|Marshall|1969|p=123}} From this time, the trains along the former Blackburn Railway lines used the former ELR station at Blackburn.{{sfn|Marshall|1969|p=187}}

The NWR was absorbed by the [[Midland Railway]] (MR) in 1871, and once the MR began work on its [[Settle and Carlisle Railway]], the LYR decided to resume work on the line north of Chatburn. This was authorised on 24 July 1871, and the {{convert|11+1/2|mi|km}} were estimated to cost £220,000.{{sfn|Marshall|1969|p=187}} Construction north of Chatburn was resumed by the LYR in 1873, and was opened as far as Gisburn on 2 June 1879 although it was complete as far as {{stnlnk|Newsholme}}; the last section, between Gisburn and Hellifield, opened on 1 June 1880.{{sfn|Marshall|1969|p=190}}

==Later history==
The line between Blackburn and Hellifield was closed to passengers on 10 September 1962 but continued to be used for diversions and for freight, and until 15 August 1964 there was a Saturdays-only train from Manchester to Glasgow which used this route.{{sfn|Marshall|1969|p=200}} The line between Blackburn and Bolton remained open, but was reduced to single track operation in two stages as part of major resignalling projects on the East Lancashire line (1973) and Bolton area (1985). The line between Blackburn and Hellifield was slated for complete closure in 1983 along with the closure of the Settle and Carlisle line, however, this proposal was dropped in 1989.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Gourvish |first1=Terry |title=British rail, 1974-97 : from integration to privatisation |date=2002 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Oxford |isbn=0-19-925005-7 |page=199}}</ref> After a public campaign, the line between Blackburn and Clitheroe was reopened to regular passenger services in 1994, and a Sunday only service was later reintroduced between Clitheroe and Hellifield.

The towns and villages on the route are the following:
*[[Manchester]]
*[[Bolton]]
*[[Hall i' th' Wood]]
*[[Bromley Cross]]
*[[Entwistle, Lancashire|Entwistle]]
*[[Darwen]]
*[[Blackburn]]
*[[Ramsgreave]] and [[Wilpshire]]
*[[Langho]]
*[[Whalley, Lancashire|Whalley]]
*[[Clitheroe]]

Passenger services from [[Clitheroe]] to Rochdale via [[Blackburn]] and [[Manchester Victoria]] are operated by [[Northern Trains]]. On summer Sundays, Northern Trains also operates the [[DalesRail]] service, which starts at [[Blackpool]] and continues beyond Clitheroe to the Settle–Carlisle line, where it calls at all the stations en route to [[Carlisle railway station|Carlisle]]. This service was extended, from mid-September 2013, to cover Sundays throughout the remainder of the year, with trains running as far as Hellifield.  It ceased in December 2022 due to a lack of available train crew, but a replacement Saturdays-only service started in June 2024, marketed as the "Yorkshire Dales Explorer" and running up to and from {{rws|Ribblehead}}.

The service from Manchester to Clitheroe was designated by the [[Department for Transport]] as a [[community rail]] service in March 2007. It was announced in March 2007 that major improvements to the line were being proposed<ref name="lanctel">{{cite news |url=http://www.thisislancashire.co.uk/news/1285106.__8m_train_service_upgrade_on_track/ |title=£8m train service upgrade on track |date=26 March 2007 |access-date=12 March 2015 |newspaper=[[Lancashire Telegraph]] |first=David |last=Bartlett }}</ref> by [[Blackburn with Darwen]] Council, who unveiled an £8&nbsp;million bid to the [[Department for Transport]] and [[Network Rail]]. Improvements may include installing double tracks where presently the route was single line, improved signalling giving increased track capacity, enhanced line speed, longer trains at peak times and ultimately putting on more frequent trains to and from Manchester throughout the day.<ref name="lanctel"/> However, the funding for the scheme was eventually rejected in March 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/display.var.2135792.0.8m_boltonblackburn_rail_revamp_derailed.php|title=£8m Bolton-Blackburn rail revamp derailed|date=2008-03-20|access-date=2008-06-28|work=[[The Bolton News]]}}</ref>

The line between [[Blackburn]] and [[Clitheroe]] was temporarily closed in November 2008 due to a major refurbishment. The £5&nbsp;million scheme included {{convert|11,651|yard}} of [[continuous welded rail]], 16,000 new concrete or steel [[railroad tie|sleeper]]s and {{convert|40,000|tonne}} of [[track ballast|ballast]].<ref>[[RAIL (magazine)|Rail]] issue 602</ref> Replacement bus services ran between [[Clitheroe]] and [[Blackburn]]. The line re-opened on 28 November 2008.

In 2009, a scheme called "Pennine Lancashire" proposed new housing, tourist attractions and improved transport links, supported by the Labour Government and Prime Minister of that time. The scheme included enhancements to the Ribble Valley line including:
*new signalling
*doubling single track lines
*increased line-speeds
*new rolling stock
*extending platform lengths
The scheme was welcomed by the Ribble Valley Rail group, who have campaigned to re-open the line and were very excited at the proposals.<ref>[[Clitheroe Advertiser and Times]] Thursday, 15 January 2009 (No 6389)</ref><ref>[http://www.clitheroeadvertiser.co.uk/clitheroenews/Multimillion-pound-investment-in-ClitheroeManchester.4880205.jp Clitheroe Advertiser article on the proposed changes]</ref>

Network Rail has carried out £14&nbsp;million of improvements to track & signalling either side of Darwen station in July and August 2015. A six-week engineering blockade saw the existing passing loop there extended by {{convert|1|mi|adj=on}}) at each end and signalling improvements made to add capacity on the line and allow for service frequencies between Bolton and Blackburn to be doubled to two trains per hour each way throughout the day from December 2017.<ref>[http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/13347657.More_rail_misery_____no_trains_between_Bolton_and_Blackburn_for_six_weeks_over_summer/ "More rail misery — no trains between Bolton and Blackburn for six weeks over summer as £14 million improvement works start"] Thorp, Liam, ''Bolton News'' article 23 June 2015; Retrieved 15 September 2015</ref><ref>[http://theshuttle.org.uk/blackburn-to-bolton-railway-reopens-after-14m-upgrade/ "Blackburn to Bolton railway reopens after £14m upgrade"] ''The Shuttle'' news article 25 August 2015; Retrieved 15 September 2015</ref> The work was completed on schedule and the line reopened on 24 August 2015.

==Possible reopening==
[[File:66525 at Newsholme.jpg|thumb|66525 at Newsholme with a loaded coal train from Killoch in Ayrshire. This is close to the site of the old {{rws|Newsholme}} railway station]]
The line has been a useful diversionary route for when the [[West Coast Main Line]] (WCML) has been closed for repairs and has also seen freight traffic use it.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Salveson |first1=Paul |title=The Settle-Carlisle Railway |date=2019 |publisher=Crowood Press |location=Marlborough |isbn=978-1-78500-637-1 |page=138}}</ref> There have been periodic calls for the final section north from Clitheroe to be re-opened to passenger traffic to provide a connection with the Leeds to Carlisle services at Hellifield.<ref>{{cite news |title=Trains fan ready to bet thousands on new link |url=https://www.cravenherald.co.uk/news/8161752.call-to-re-open-skipton-to-clitheroe-rail-service/ |access-date=10 June 2020 |work=Craven Herald |date=15 May 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Plans to restore old rail line back on track? |url=https://www.clitheroeadvertiser.co.uk/lifestyle/cars/plans-restore-old-rail-line-back-track-2059484 |access-date=10 June 2020 |work=The Clitheroe Advertiser |date=7 February 2018}}</ref> In 2020, the UK Government announced a £500&nbsp;million fund to enable groups and campaigners to pay for business cases on reopening proposals.<ref>{{cite news |title=£500m fund to help restore Beeching rail lines |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-51272817 |access-date=10 June 2020 |work=BBC News |date=28 January 2020}}</ref> The section of line between Hellifield and Clitheroe was in the initial ten proposals that were approved for funding by the government.<ref>{{cite news |title=10 rail schemes awarded business case development funding |url=https://www.railwaygazette.com/uk/10-rail-schemes-awarded-business-case-development-funding/56604.article |access-date=10 June 2020 |work=Railway Gazette International |date=27 May 2020}}</ref>

The bid by campaigners suggests reopening the stations at {{rws|Chatburn}}, {{rws|Rimington}}, {{rws|Gisburn}} and {{rws|Newsholme}} with a provision for trains from Clitheroe to run southwards to Leeds after arriving at Hellifield, rather than continuing north to Carlisle. A newly introduced passenger service would increase services southwards from Clitheroe to half-hourly as opposed to the current level of one service per hour.<ref>{{cite news |title=New Pennine rail link between Clitheroe and Hellifield moves a step closer |url=https://www.cravenherald.co.uk/news/18493849.new-pennine-rail-link-clitheroe-hellifield-moves-step-closer/ |access-date=10 June 2020 |work=Craven Herald |date=3 June 2020}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[John Hargreaves (early railway operator)|John Hargreaves Jr]]

== References ==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
*{{cite book | title=Lancashire's Lost Railways | last=James | first=David | isbn=978-1-84033-288-9 | oclc=56002103 | year=2004 | publisher=Stenlake Publishing | location=[[Catrine]], [[Ayrshire]] }}
*{{cite book |last=Marshall |first=John |author-link=John Marshall (railway historian) |title=The Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway, volume 1 |year=1969 |publisher=[[David & Charles]] |location=Newton Abbot |isbn=0-7153-4352-1 }}
*Welch, S. ''Lancashire Steam Finale'', {{ISBN|1-870754-61-1}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite magazine |first=John |last=Marshall |date=October 1962 |editor-last=B.W.C. |editor-first=Cooke |title=Manchester to Hellifield, part one |magazine=[[The Railway Magazine]] |location=Westminster |publisher=Tothill Press |volume=108 |issue=738 |pages=677–682 }}
*{{cite magazine |first=John |last=Marshall |date=November 1962 |editor-last=B.W.C. |editor-first=Cooke |title=Manchester to Hellifield, part two |magazine=The Railway Magazine |location=Westminster |publisher=Tothill Press |volume=108 |issue=739 |pages=755–763 }}
*{{cite magazine|title=The line that refused to give up!|first=Peter|last=Brass|magazine=[[RAIL (magazine)|RAIL]]|issue=307|publisher=EMAP Apex Publications|date=18 June – 1 July 1997|pages=34–38|issn=0953-4563|oclc=49953699}}

== External links ==
{{commons category|Ribble Valley Line}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050409223843/http://www.ribblevalleyrail.co.uk/ Ribble Valley Rail] 
*[http://www.dalesrail.com DalesRail]

{{Railway lines in North West England}}
{{Blackburn with Darwen culture}}

[[Category:Rail transport in Lancashire]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Greater Manchester]]
[[Category:Community railway lines in England]]
[[Category:Transport in Blackburn with Darwen]]
[[Category:Railway lines in North West England]]
[[Category:1838 establishments in England]]