Lakes Line delays let local people down - Farron

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has accused the Conservatives of letting local people down, after the Rail Minister this week refused to give a date for the electrification of the Lakes Line.

The Lib Dems originally managed to secure funding for the electrification project in 2014, and the original timescale would have seen the project finished by 2017. However, the current Conservative government has repeatedly pushed this back, meaning it is still years from completion.

In a response this week to a parliamentary question by Tim, the Rail Minister said that costs had risen and refused to give a date for the project's completion.

Tim said: "Local people feel very let down by the Conservatives. This project was supposed to have already been completed by now, but the Conservatives are continuing to kick it into the long grass. Now the minister is refusing even to give a date for when it might be finished.

"With electrification would come new trains and better links to the rest of the rail network, including Manchester Airport. This would provide a real boost to our local tourist economy. The government must end delays to this project and start work immediately."