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Friday 10 Jul 2015

Work starts to reinstate rail link to Arcow and Dry Rigg quarries

Region & Route:

| North West & Central

Work has started on a £5million project to link two quarries near Horton in Ribblesdale with the Settle to Carlisle railway line, a move which will help remove up to 16,000 lorry journeys from the local road network.

The project is being funded by Lafarge Tarmac which has for a number of years been in discussion with the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, Craven District Council, local parish councils and residents to examine the ways in which materials from its Arcow and Dryrigg quarries could be moved by rail.

Working with Network Rail, a solution was found through the reinstatement of a rail connection linking Arcow to the main Settle to Carlisle line, which was originally removed from operational use in the 1960s. Once reopened, the link will enable the transfer of materials by rail, removing thousands of lorry journeys from the Yorkshire Dales National Park each year.

A public information event will take place next week, which will be hosted by Network Rail and LaFarge Tarmac, where local people can find out more about the benefits of the investment.

Joelle Calderelli, Network Rail’s scheme project manager, said: "This is a project which demonstrates the value of the railway to industry to move large amounts of material which is currently being transported by roads. Rail freight is better for the environment than road haulage and helps to remove thousands of vehicles from the road network. 

"Work has already started and involves building a new railway embankment and installing all of the infrastructure to safely operate trains. Once completed, we will be connecting the new section to the mainline in late 2015."

During the commissioning alternative travel arrangements will be in place and further information will be made available nearer the time.

The information event will take place on Tuesday 14 July at Settle Quaker Meeting, Friends Meeting House, Kirkgate, Settle, BD24 9DX, between 4pm and 7.30pm. For further information contact Network Rail’s national helpline on 03457 11 41 41.