EXACTLY 40 years after the notorious Beeching plan to slash 2,363 rail stations and 5,000 miles of track nationwide was unveiled, the Countryside Agency is calling for disused railway lines in Yorkshire to be reopened.

Among the lines the agency, which advises the Government on rural issues, wants to be considered for reopening for passengers is the Skipton to Grassington line, Skipton to Colne, the Hellifield to Clitheroe line (currently used for freight traffic only) and linking up the Embsay Steam Railway with the main line at Skipton.

Sir Martin Doughty, chairman of English Nature and a board member of the Countryside Agency, said that many of the lines axed by Beeching could be reopened to play an important role in an expanded rail network.

David Faranoff, from the Countryside Agency, said: "We are looking to the long term. We want to make sure that disused railways are protected from development which would make it harder to bring them back into use. We also want to support more detailed feasability studies on particular routes."

The report has assessed all the rail lines closed in Yorkshire since 1948. The potential benefits in economic, social and environmental terms if re-opened was examined in every case. Tourism, how easy the line would be to reopen and the contribution to an enhanced regional network were also taken into account.

The Countryside Agency points out that some lines listed for closure by Beeching but which survived are now thriving commuter lines. These include

the Leeds to Ilkley line.

The report also mentions how the Settle to Carlisle line has become a busy passenger and freight route, bringing thousands of visitors to the area.