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Click on the above panel for other selected links Updated 14/10/2007 Webmaster : Nigel Kirby
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History of Ribble Valley Rail |
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Ribble Valley Line - Station Closures 1962
Last train from Clitheroe on 10th September 1962
Left: Formal line closure notice
. . . . . . and then, 24 years later , . . . . .
Campaign to re-open the line was launched
In December 1986, when the Settle-Carlisle line was under threat of closure, Ribble Valley Rail was formed.
The initial aim was to restore passenger services between Blackburn and Clitheroe, and ultimately, onwards to Hellifield and beyond.
Currently RVR is now also very supportive of any plans for the doubling of the line from Bolton to Blackburn.
An early RVR Committee
pose for founder member Ken Roberts’ camera outside the Pendle Hotel, Chatburn.
L-R: Bob Greenwood, Brian Haworth, Steve Houlker, Ron Birch, Peter Moore during May 1992
RVR organised chartered diesel trains between Preston and Clitheroe to raise public awareness.
The special trains, branded as Ribble Valley Rail Days, were very popular, and the fares, that were collected, covered the hire charges.
The local paper, Clitheroe Advertiser & Times, was very supportive, running many topical stories with a railway theme.
Mindful of the public support for the charter trains, RVR members lobbied local and national politicians and anyone else likely to help their cause.
DMU passing through Whalley Station, later to be rebuilt
Subsequently, Lancashire County Council devised a scheme to re-introduce trains on the Ribble Valley Line.
Next, a professional feasibility study confirmed there was a good business case for this service.
Right: Richard Watts, LCC Rail Support Officer
Meanwhile the popular DalesRail trains had been running from the Northwest to Carlisle on summer weekends.
These trains secured the legality of the line as it now had to be included in the Settle & Carlisle line closure public enquiry.
Public opinion guaranteed the future of the S & C, and with it the Ribble Valley line.
First northbound DalesRail train arrives at Hellifield before restoration, the need for which is much in evidence.
Before a full service started, Regional Railways ran a Summer Saturday Shopper service between Clitheroe and Preston to test the market.
Not surprisingly, the market was supportive!
It was eventually decided to restart a Monday to Saturday service on the line with 17 daily trains each way between Clitheroe and Manchester Vic.
The DalesRail trains continued on Summer Sundays.
Right:
Regional Railways DMU leaving Brownhill Cutting, Blackburn, on a Clitheroe to Manchester Vic. service.
Photo: K. Roberts
A few years later, a Sunday Service was established.
Note the innovative display of the Sunday Timetable, as designed by the Railway Operator at that time.
Station Reconstruction
Clitheroe Station
had been partly rebuilt for the DalesRail service, but was rebuilt again, and finally opened as
Clitheroe Interchange
Clitheroe Interchange (before enlargement)
and the Millennium Clock
Photo: C. Carr
“a good servant, who served well”
Plaque located outside the Interchange, which is dedicated to the memory of founder member, the late Ron Birch, who did so much to establish RVR, and to restore the service to the Ribble Valley Line.
Whalley
was rebuilt roughly on its original site.
Right: Before
Photo: Unknown
Far right: . .and after rebuilding
Photo: K. Geddes
Langho
was also rebuilt roughly on its original site.
Right: View of the station late 1950s just after closure on 7th May 1956 with a train continuing the climb up Langho Bank to Wilpshire
Photo: K.. Roberts
Langho
just before reconstruction
Photo: B. Haworth
Langho
after reconstruction
Photo: B. Haworth
A replacement for
Wilpshire (for Ribchester) Station
was built on a site 400 yards south of the original structure and renamed
Ramsgreave & Wilpshire
Photo: K. Roberts
A class 153 on a route-familarisation run passes through the new station during its construction
Ramsgreave & Wilpshire
now completed, with the remains of the former Wilpshire (for Ribchester) Station, white building (now a private residence) just visible in the background, top right,
as a Clitheroe-bound train sets off from Platform 2 on 25 January 2005.
Photo: N. Kirby
Finally, the official opening of the Ribble Valley Line took place on 24th May 1994,
. . . . with the full service starting on Monday 30th May.
Photos courtesy: E. Buckley, W. Briggs, C.Carr, B. Haworth, J. Matthews, K. Roberts, (and maybe more - please advise if this is so)
Today
The re-opened service has gone from strength to strength and a regular Sunday Service has now been established.
Despite short term punctuality and reliability problems, passenger numbers are growing. The trains are well used, especially by young people and mothers with young children, and there is a healthy commuter flow.
Ribble Valley Rail members help to keep the stations tidy, liaise with railway and other bodies to optimise the local rail service, and preach the gospel of public transport in the Ribble Valley.
From Monday to Saturday there are 18 trains from Clitheroe to Manchester Victoria, a late evening train to Manchester Piccadilly, Stockport & Buxton, and finally one to Morecambe via Preston. On Sundays, there are 14 trains to Manchester Victoria, and, in the summer, the Blackpool North and Preston to Carlisle DalesRail services. All trains call at Whalley, Langho, Ramsgreave & Wilpshire and Blackburn.
Ribble Valley Rail's main roles are to monitor the service (suggesting improvements where appropriate), and, through the affiliated Friends of Stations, caring for the Valley's stations.
On 28 March 2007 Ribble Valley Line was awarded Community LIne Status. To view the press release, and for further details, please click here.
Tourism
The reopening of the Ribble Valley Line has had a marked impact on tourism in the Ribble Valley and surrounding area.
Moreover, it is further aided by the many promotional rail and combined bus tickets (details below) that are now available to encourage exploration of the many different facets of this very attractive part of the country.
On the approach to Christmas each year, Santa services and Mince Pie specials are also run in December in conjunction with festive markets and shopping displays that are open in Clitheroe.
Usually in May each year, Community Rail Day offers an interesting insight into the World of the Ribble Valley (details elsewhere on this website).
The opportunities to enjoy walking in the West Pennine Moors (best accessed from Entwistle) and the Ribble Valley are much enhanced by the Rail & Bus ticket, which also opens up the Forest of Bowland, Pendle Hill (six mile round trip from Clitheroe), and the Slaidburn & Settle areas.
The Summer Sunday DalesRail service further increases significantly the countryside that can be explored, most notably in the Yorkshire Dales but also further afield in an area not easily accessible by rail at other times from Ribble Valley Stations, and the Northwest in general.
Photo: K. Geddes.
A view of Low Moor Church, Clitheroe Castle, and Pendle Hill seen from the road to Bashall Eaves.
"For anyone who's never been, THIS is the Ribble Valley" - Bill Briggs
In addition, a programme of Guided Walks has been devised, and details may be accessed by clicking here.
A non-traditional view of Downham Village, with its backdrop of Pendle Hill, both of which form frequently-used locations for TV dramas.
Photo: D. Johns
Trough of Bowland
and the scenic moorland road linking Clitheroe and Lancaster
Photo: D. Johns
A roof-top view of Clitheroe, as seen from the Castle.
Photo: D. Johns
An expansive view of the Ribble Valley
Stocks Reservoir, viewed from Dunsop Fell, OS Map Ref: SD 680 546, 2.5 miles NW of Slaidburn, and looking in the direction of Settle and Hellifield
Photo: D. Johns
The above four photographs were kindly supplied by David Johns, Clitheroe Information Centre,
whose support of RVR and the website, is gratefully acknowledged.
Full tourism advice and various leaflets etc are also obtainable from manned stations and
Clitheroe Interchange, Clitheroe Information Centre and Blackburn Visitors Centre.
21st Anniversary
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Ribble Valley Rail - The User group for the Ribble Valley Line
RVR has close relationships with the Train Operating Company, Northern Rail, and with Network Rail. Regular liaison meetings are held with both organisations, local members of which often attend RVR meetings. Until the abolition of local rail passenger representation RVR also had close links with the North West Rail Passenger Committee through one of its committee members, who had served on the RPC. Right: RVR Chairman Peter Moore Photo: W. Briggs |
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RVR Membership
If, once you have viewed the various sections of this website, you would like information about how to join RVR, please click here.. Right: Membership Sec. & RVRNews Editor Bill Briggs |
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Further information about the various roles of RVR can be found in the Friends of Stations section by clicking here.