ELECTRIFICATION OF THE LAKES LINE IN CUMBRIA

That this House notes plans to electrify routes around Manchester and create a hub ensuring an hourly service from that city to Preston, Carlisle and Scotland; raises concerns that these plans will put the Lakes Line from Oxenholme to Windermere under threat unless it is electrified too; highlights that the Lakes Line plays a vital role supporting tourism in the Lake District which contributes £2 billion of expenditure annually to the local economy in Cumbria; recognises that Network Rail described the process of electrifying the line as a straightforward job; and calls on the Government to invest in electrifying the Lakes Line for the benefit of residents and the millions of visitors to the Lake District every year.