The purpose of SELRAP is to campaign for the reinstatement of the railway line between Skipton (North Yorkshire)and Colne (Lancashire) for passengers and freight use and to ensure that, until that aim can be attained, the trackbed is not adversely affected by development, or any other cause.

The reinstatement of the railway line between Skipton and Colne would enable better transport access for those living in East Lancashire, where availability of cars and the lack of access to rail transport limits access to work in an area of high unemployment and poor levels of pay.