CUMBRIA BETTER CONNECTED CAMPAIGN

That this House notes with concern the proposed reduction in direct train services between Barrow and Manchester Airport and Windermere and Manchester Airport as part of the draft 2014 timetable published by First Transpennine and Network Rail; believes that these connections provide a vital service for local residents and are essential to the tourist industry in the Lake District; further notes that the Lakes Line has been named in the top 10 branch lines in the country, posting an 81,218 increase in passengers over four years and that passenger surveys have consistently shown that tourists value the opportunity to travel directly between the airport and their holiday destination; and calls on the Government to press First Transpennine to revise its current proposed timetable for 2014 and to adapt the franchise specification for the next round of bidding for the West Coast Main Line to ensure a similar level of direct train services are maintained.