Cumbria cannot be forgotten when forging better transport links as talk of a new rail connection emerges.

That's the view of Carlisle MP John Stevenson who will today hold talks over improvements to key county roads.

He will meet David Brown, chief executive of Transport for the North, just 24 hours after George Osborne called on the Prime Minister to commit to building high-speed rail links across the north of the country to unlock its economic potential.

And the former chancellor, chairman of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, said the body wanted a Government commitment to build links across the north, starting with a line across the Pennines.

Speaking about the need for investment across the spectrum, Mr Stevenson said: "I'm in regular contact with Chris Grayling, the Transport Secretary, about improving transport links in Cumbria and the rail link between Carlisle and Newcastle as well as improvements on the A69.

"I'm also meeting with Transport for the North today. We're going to be having a meeting at Carlisle Airport where I'll be discussing what can be done there as well as upgrades to both the A69 and the A595."

Mr Stevenson said that while the greater conurbations in the north are in areas such as Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds, Carlisle and Cumbria will not be forgotten by the government.

He added: "We have to accept that because they're the most populated areas, then they might take some priority. But Cumbria cannot be forgotten and I don't think it will be."

Mr Osborne's comments come as 50 business and civic leaders from across the north of England hand a letter to the Government demanding an increase in transport spending.


So far, more than 70,000 people have signed a petition demanding more investment in transport outside of London and the South East.

Earlier this year it emerged that more than half of England's annual £32.7 billion transport budget is spent in London.

An independent study by think tank the Institute of Public Policy Research (IPPR) North in February found that £1,943 is spent per head in London on current or planned transport infrastructure projects, compared to an average of just £427 in the North.

The report's author Grace Blakeley said at the time: "It currently takes longer to travel by train from Liverpool to Hull than from London to Paris.

"Building better links between the North's cities will boost the nation's economy, driving up productivity."

A major cross-party summit will be held in Leeds today (WEDS) to discuss transport investment in the North.

Writing in the Financial Times, Mr Osborne said: "The Northern Powerhouse Rail fits with Mrs May's stated objective of building an economy that works for everyone.

"Far be it from me to offer advice to the Prime Minister on how to relaunch her premiership this autumn, but making this big commitment to the North at the Conservative conference in Manchester would not be a bad place to start."

He wrote: "Northern Powerhouse Rail, or HS3, must be included in the next stage of the Government's high-speed network.

"Specifically, ministers should include the planning for the future connections when they set out the design for Phase 2b of HS2 later this year, remodelling four junctions to ensure they are complimentary with the Northern Powerhouse Rail proposals, start the detailed planning work on the line itself and allocate a long-term capital budget."