Cumbria Better Connected group urge Transport Secretary to give green light for Lakes Line passing loop

This afternoon, the Cumbria Better Connected campaign group have written to the Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, urging him to back Cumbria County's Council bid for a passing loop on the Lakes Line.

Earlier this month the county council submitted an application to the Department for Transport for a £50,000 contribution to the cost of a business case and feasibility study for a passing loop which could double capacity on the line which runs from Oxenholme to Windermere.

The letter was spearheaded by Cumbria Better Connected's Chair South Lakes MP Tim Farron and has been signed by local politicians and organisations including fellow South Cumbrian MP Simon Fell, Cumbria Tourism, Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership and the Lakes Line Rail User Group.

Writing to Grant Shapps, Tim said: "A passing loop could easily double capacity on the line and, in doing so, will offer more regular and more reliable services into one of the most visited tourist destinations in the country.

"This would provide an enormous boost to Cumbria's tourism sector, which is worth more than £3bn to the UK economy.

"It would have enormous environmental benefits too, with increased capacity on the Lakes Line resulting in fewer people needing to make the journey into the Lake District by car leading to fewer carbon emissions in this World Heritage Site.

"We believe that this is a fantastic proposal and strongly urge that it is awarded funding."