Breakfast presenter Jim Coulson from UKRD’s East Lancashire station 2BR is taking up a challenge to walk between two towns 12 miles apart – quicker than a train can do the journey.
It’s not as daft as it sounds though, as the line between Colne and Skipton closed 40 years ago, meaning the current rail trip goes via Accrington and Bradford and takes around 3 and a half hours.
He’ll be joined on the 12-mile walk this Friday (22nd July) by members of campaign group Skipton East Lancs Rail Action Partnership (SELRAP) who are lobbying to get the line reinstated and provide the rail network with a shorter link between Yorkshire and Lancashire.
A reporter will leave Colne on the 10.50am train and at the same time the group of walkers including Jim will head off, using the railway trackbed wherever possible.
Jim told RadioToday.co.uk: “This just shows why I need to keep my mouth shut and stop making ludicrous claims like ‘I could walk 12 miles in 3.5 hours’ – I was asking to be challenged on that! As has been pointed out, it’ll be a lovely trek if it’s sunny, but it’s not likely to stay sunny – it’s July in Lancashire, there’s no guarantee. It’ll be a big challenge, but I’m ready for it as long as I lay off the pies this week.”
Posted on Monday, July 18th, 2011 at 9:48 pm by RadioToday UK