Introduction
Reinstating a railway as part of the national network is a complex and expensive process. There have been several notably successful reinstatements in recent years and these examples encourage the UWR team in their endeavours.
In broad (and greatly simplified) terms:
- It requires wide consultation with communities, businesses, local authorities and government agencies on the implications for reinstating the railway.
- Substantial funds must be raised from both public and private sources.
- Access to the former railway land and structures will need to be arranged.
- After the railway closed, much of the railway land was sold and this will need to be regained. It is helpful that the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority* has protected the former railway land from development to date.
- Statutory Powers to construct and operate a railway are essential and are obtained only as a result of long-term, sustained endeavour.
- Re-construction of the railway would be undertaken by professional contractors working to established and appropriate industry standards. A simple single-track railway between Garsdale and Hawes is envisaged. (The original railway was single track throughout, except for the station areas at Garsdale and Hawes.)
- As with other successful reinstatements, the railway would ultimately be operated and maintained as part of the national network to provide a public service.
* The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA) is an independent body within the framework of local government whose aims are conservation and enhancement of the National Park. Amongst other responsibilities, those for local planning are delegated to the YDNPA. In its 2015-2030 Local Plan (formally adopted in 2016), the YDNPA recognised the importance and future strategic potential of the former railway alignment. It is anticipated that this protection will be wholly or substantially retained in their 2023-2040 Local Plan. In June 2022, despite numerous and substantive objections, the Members of the YDNPA resolved to support the development of a multi-user route (essentially a public bridleway) using the route of the former railway from Garsdale to Hawes. Work to develop the proposal, as well as to identify the not insignificant funding required, was thereby authorised.