Local Lib Dem councillor gains cross-party support for Cumbrian micro-franchise following Northern rail chaos

A local Lib Dem councillor in Kendal has gained cross-party support for a Cumbrian micro rail franchise.

Tonight, councillors on South Lakeland District Council voted in favour of Cllr Matt Severn's motion which called for the Lakes, Furness and Coast Lines to be removed from the Northern franchise and for there to be a new Cumbrian micro-franchise.

The motion, which was backed by Lib Dem, Labour and Conservative councillors, also condemned the Government for awarding Northern the contract to the two South Cumbrian lines back in 2016 and for scrapping plans to electrify the Lakes Line last summer.

Matt said: "I'm delight that councillors of all political stripes have voted in support of a new Cumbrian micro-franchise.

"We have put up with a failed service from Northern & the cold shoulder from the Department for Transport for long enough.

"It's brilliant that as a county we are starting to speak with one voice and say it's time to sack Northern and back Cumbria!"