Business people and tourism leaders have hailed the announcement of a new rail link with Airedale as a boost for the local economy.

They are to gather to hear details of the new daily London to Skipton daily train service at a presentation organised by Keighley Business Forum.

Great North Eastern Railway (GNER) bosses are planning to launch the new high-speed service this autumn. It will allow passengers to travel between Keighley and London without having to change at Leeds or Bradford as they do now.

Mike Staff, GNER customer operations manager, will make the presentation at Keighley Business Development Centre in Lawkholme Lane on Wednesday from 6-7pm.

Iain Copping, director of Keighley Business Forum, says: ''The new service is excellent news for business people and rail passengers. It will put this area within easy reach of the capital.''

Carolyn Spencer, manager of Keighley-based Bronte Country Tourism, says: ''This move will without doubt enhance our efforts to attract more rail passengers and should prove a major boost to the local tourism economy.''

Anyone interested in attending the presentation should telephone the forum on 671870.

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