A train service to London from the Dales, reinstated today after an absence of 22 years, is expected to boost tourism and business in the Aire Valley.

The first train to run from Skipton to Kings Cross since 1976 left the market town's station at 6.54am to the stirring notes of a brass band and the clinking of champagne glasses .

About 50 VIP guests from business and tourism were on board as guests of Great North Eastern Railway.

The train, which will make a stop at Keighley, was flagged off by Keighley Labour MP Ann Cryer, Skipton Mayor Councillor Paul Whitaker and Craven Council chairman Councillor Janet Gott.

The party then joined the guests from business and tourism for the journey although Mrs Cryer left the train at Leeds to go on to the Labour Party conference in Blackpool.

Mrs Cryer, whose late husband, Bob Cryer, former MP for Keighley, was a rail enthusiast, said: "This will be seen as a building block in the direction of getting more people out of their cars and onto the railways.''

The launch of the high-speed service is the result of two years' campaigning by Keighley Business Forum and tourism leaders. Graham Mitchell, of the KBF, urged local people to make full use of the service and its discounted fares.

Keighley was only three hours from London, he said. "We hope to see many more visitors here at weekends. There is so much for people to see here - from the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway and Bronte Parsonage Museum to Skipton Castle."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.