MP demands Network Rail ‘go back to the drawing board’ over summer closure

Local MP Tim Farron has written to the Chief Executive of Network Rail calling for an urgent rethink over plans to close a large section of the West Coast Mainline during the summer.

The line will be closed south of Warrington for 16 days from July 20th to August 4th due to engineering works.

This is set to cause huge disruption to passengers wanting to visit the Lake District via train during the first three weeks of the summer school holidays.

Cumbria Tourism have described the closures as a 'major blow' to the county's £2.9bn visitor economy.

Tim said: "After last summer's titanic shambles, it's frankly unbelievable that rail bosses have once again thrown the Lake District under the bus.

"I was glad to work with Network Rail in finding a solution to the proposed closure over Easter when we arranged for a free special rail service on the Lakes Line.

"It's time for them to show that same flexibility and go back to the drawing board and rethink these nonsensical plans."