Record numbers visit Embsay Steam Railway (From Craven Herald)

Record numbers visit Embsay Steam Railway

2:00pm Friday 4th September 2009 in

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Excitement over a £2 million attempt to restore the missing rail link between Bolton Abbey and Skipton has helped attract a record number of tourists to the steam railway attraction this year, according to enthusiasts.

And a new policy to find out the postcodes of visitors to Embsay Steam Railway has revealed that some people have travelled from as far away as Mexico and Australia, with others from the far reaches of the UK making long journeys to enjoy the experience.

Stephen Walker, the railway’s business development manager, said the home towns of visitors were being recorded as part of the drive to attract grants to fund expansion plans.

Under the ambitious plans, revealed by the Herald earlier this year, enthusiasts plan to reinstate the Skipton-to-Embsay train service, which was closed more than 40 years ago.

The old Platform Five at Skipton Railway Station, which is still intact, will be re-opened to provide a tourist link to Embsay and Bolton Abbey for trains from Bradford, Leeds and Carlisle.

Currently, the steam trains stop at Embsay junction. But a portion of the old track from there to Skipton is still used by freight trains going to and from Swinden Quarry at Threshfield and it is hoped this can be brought back into use for passengers.

A Network Rail feasibility study has already concluded that just 20 yards of track are missing between Embsay and Skipton and this could be replaced with relative ease.

The biggest expense would be the creation of new signalling to allow freight and passenger trains to share the same route in and out of Skipton.

“Our visitor numbers are up 15 per cent and we are doing a lot better than other visitor attractions in the area,” said Mr Walker.

“I think the excitement created by our bid to re-establish the link between Embsay and Skipton has helped to boost our passenger numbers. People are really interested in the prospect and so are coming to have a look at us.

“Our postcode research has shown that the majority of our visitors are travelling long distances. We have even had visitors from as far away as Australia and Mexico, which is amazing and shows our marketing is working.”

“In order to apply for grants to turn our plans into reality we have to show that we are providing a benefit to the region and we can certainly show that.”

“Our analysis shows that we are definitely bringing visitors into the Craven area.”

The “Economic Benefit Study” will be completed in the second week in September and then it will be full steam ahead with the compilation of formal grant applications.

“Once we have all the postcodes from our visitors, the information will be processed to produce hard figures on the overall spend our tourists are likely to make in the Craven area,” said Mr Walker.

“We will then have the evidence to convince bodies like Yorkshire Forward that we’re worth the investment.”

Meanwhile the railway’s main fundraiser, the “Skipton Extender” tickets, are selling well.

Passengers pay in advance for train tickets which double in value when they are redeemed a minimum of 12 months later. “The tickets have been very well received. People like the idea of the railway going back to Skipton and are keen to support the venture,” said Mr Walker.

The steam railway’s chairman and founder member Henry Meyer has said the missing link – closed in the mid-60s under Dr Beeching's railway cutbacks – could be brought back to life within three years.

The steam railway is a huge draw for tourists, carrying a total of 165,000 passengers a year.

It is open weekends in winter and builds up to a seven-days-a-week season in the six-week summer school holidays.

The railway has 1,000 members with 200 locally-based volunteers working regularly.

* To make a donation or get more information about becoming a member or volunteer, contact the railway on 01756 710614.