The rail service between Clitheroe and Manchester via Blackburn and Bolton has been designated as a community rail service, Rail Minister Tom Harris announced on 28 March 2007.

The designated service allows for a more flexible approach to be adopted by the train operating company (Northern) working alongside the local community rail partnership. This allows them to manage the service with greater emphasis on meeting local needs. Together they will continue to look for ways to increase patronage and improve the service.

Transport Minister Tom Harris said: "Designation of the Clitheroe Line as a community rail service is good news for passengers. It will encourage involvement from community, businesses, and the local council working with the train operating company to develop the service."

Heidi Mottram, Managing Director, Northern Rail said: "Northern welcomes the designation of the Clitheroe Line as a 'community rail service'. We will continue our support for the Clitheroe Line Community Rail Partnership and the user group Ribble Valley Rail. We hope that designation will offer significant opportunities to build on the success of this route."

Richard Watts, Partnership Secretary, Clitheroe Line Community Rail Partnership said: "The Partnership welcomes the Community Rail service designation for the Manchester to Clitheroe line. This is the culmination of a lot of hard work to establish the partnership and to agree with partners an Action Plan for the future development of the line. Designation will provide even more opportunities to breathe new life into the line, improve stations and further engage with the local community. We have an exciting Marketing Plan for the line which has been short listed for entry into the National Community Rail Awards later this year. This is indeed an exciting time for the line."

Notes:

* The Community Rail Development Strategy looks at innovative ways of operating local branch lines, through a programme of cost management, a drive to increase passenger numbers and direct community involvement via local authorities, community rail partnerships, and other stakeholder groups.

* To date, 13 lines with their services have been designated as Community Rail lines:
St Ives Bay Line - Cornwall
Looe Valley Line - Cornwall
Tamar Valley Line - Devon/Plymouth/Cornwall
Island Line - Isle of Wight
Abbey Line - Hertfordshire
Penistone Line - South and West Yorkshire
Esk Valley Line - Teesside and North Yorkshire
Tarka Line - Devon
Maritime Line - Cornwall
Derwent Valley Line - Derbyshire
East Lancashire Line - Lancashire
Gainsborough Line - Suffolk/Essex
Barton-on-Humber Line - Lincolnshire