Political and business leaders in Cumbria are calling for urgent investment in the county’s coastal railway line.
New Whitehaven & Workington MP Josh MacAlister has written to Transport Secretary Louise Haigh to pump money into the line, which runs from Carlisle to Barrow.
The letter was signed by Cumbria’s four other MPs, including Liberal Democrat Tim Farron, the leaders of Cumberland and Westmorland & Furness councils and the bosses of Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership and Cumbria Chamber of Commerce.
A bid was made to the previous Conservative government several years ago to upgrade the line, which was rejected. In the last days of Rishi Sunak’s government he promised to deliver the scheme, but no funding was allocated in the last government’s Budget earlier this year.
The letter says: “The Cumbrian Coast Line is a key asset for the north, connecting Carlisle and Barrow-in-Furness, via Workington and Whitehaven and many other smaller towns and villages, in addition to a range of nationally significant energy and nuclear sites together with ports at Workington and Barrow-in-Furness.
“More than 200,000 people and 10,000 businesses are located along the route. Building on opportunities along its route, the line can be a catalyst for significant inward investment and inclusive growth; but only if constraints are addressed; including limited capacity, poor line speeds and unreliable infrastructure.
“This is now an urgent issue. Poor infrastructure has seen the line closed several times in the last year alone, completely cutting off communities and causing chaos.”
The letter added that it was estimated that the scheme could deliver up to £152 million in environmental and health benefits, up to £270 million in road decongestion benefits, create up to 3,200 direct jobs and add up to £1 billion GVA to the UK.
Mr MacAlister said: “Labour’s commitment to growth means investing in infrastructure projects that will deliver growth. We’re going to make the strongest case we can that investing in the Cumbrian Coast Line is key to generating growth here in Cumbria.
“This cross-county, cross-party approach will be the new way we will work in a new grown up politics to get things done for the people of Cumbria.”
