Carlisle could become a major transport hub if Northern Powerhouse proposals go ahead.

The Northern Powerhouse initiative - which aims to boost economic growth in the north of England - could be considered in this year's Budget.

Carlisle MP John Stevenson told business leaders that there was "strong support" for the submission and that his goal was to see it considered in November's Budget.

Mr Stevenson was speaking at a Northern Powerhouse Rail event at Carlisle Youth Zone along with Lord Jim O'Neill, who helped develop the initiative with former Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne.

The Northern Powerhouse Rail project seeks to improve links between cities in the north to improve productivity and create jobs.

It aims to reposition the balance of the English economy away from London and the south east.

Mr Stevenson said: "Our goal is to have the submission ready in time for this year's Budget in November.

"We have strong support from councils, MPs and MSPs and all those involved in the Borderlands initiative.

"We want to see Carlisle station as a major hub.

"It's an exciting time for Carlisle. I've lived here 25 years and we've now got an Enterprise Zone, a Garden Village proposal, work on a ring road, an airport, a university. All these things have given the city a major economic boost."

Mr O'Neill said people in Carlisle needed to start thinking about the north as a whole.

Invited business people raised concerns about the state of the Carlisle to Barrow line and the fact that the city was not a scheduled stop for the new HS2 high speed rail link.

Mr O'Neill said: "I have travelled on the train from Carlisle to St Bees and you're right it is not fit for commercial use.

"With regards getting the city as an HS2 stop then we need to get the ears of the policy thinkers.

"To connect Carlisle better is definitely in the minds of those for Transport for the North (TfN)."

Northern Powerhouse Rail is a key project being led by TfN, which has just ended a consultation on its 30-year strategy to improve transport connections in the region.

The Northern Powerhouse Partnership is working with TfN to secure the funding needed to make improvements that it hopes will bring the North closer to the east and west of the UK, while at the same time improve connections with London on the back of the controversial HS2 project.