Lancashire four universities: Lancaster University, the University of Central Lancashire, Edge Hill University and the Lancaster campus of the University of Cumbria. Seven colleges offer higher education courses. The Lancashire economy relies strongly on the M6 motorway which runs from north to south, past Lancaster and Preston. The M55 connects Preston to Blackpool and is 11.5 miles (18.3 km) long. The M65 motorway from Colne, connects Burnley, Accrington, Blackburn to Preston. The M61 from Preston via Chorley and the M66 starting inside the county boundary near Edenfield, provide links between Lancashire and Manchester] and the trans-Pennine M62. The M58 crosses the
Brierfield railway station has been donated to a local arts organisation ("In-Situ") and is to be rebuilt nearby at Brierfield Mills. There is an active Rail user Group based here - "The Friends of Brierfield Station" Monday to Saturdays, there is an hourly service from Brierfield towards Burnley Central, Accrington, Blackburn and Preston westbound and Colne, eastbound. There is also now an hourly service in each direction on Sundays, with through trains to . Brierfield railway station Brierfield railway station serves the small town of Brierfield, Lancashire, England and is on the East Lancashire Line east of Burnley Central railway station towards Colne