An MP has hit out at the Government for ‘not mentioning Cumbria once’ in its 162-page plan for rail in the North.

Tim Farron said it was ‘gobsmacking’ that the county had been excluded from the Integrated Rail Plan for the North and the Midlands, which was released today.

And MP for Barrow and Furness, Simon Fell, expressed scepticism at the plans and said ‘the proof of this will be in the pudding’.

Boris Johnson has been accused of a 'betrayal' of the North and Midlands with the scaled-back plans for rail investment in the region.

There was anger in the Commons as Transport Secretary Grant Shapps confirmed that the eastern leg of HS2 was being scrapped while the planned Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) was being curtailed.

The prime minister insisted the Integrated Rail Plan (IRP) would double capacity between Manchester and Leeds and treble that between Manchester and Liverpool.

The main elements of the IRP are:

  • The extension of HS2 from the East Midlands to Leeds has been scrapped. HS2 trains will instead run on existing lines.
  • NPR between Leeds and Manchester will be a combination of new track and enhancements to existing infrastructure.
  • Plans to fully electrify the Midland Main Line and the Transpennine route and upgrade the East Coast Main Line.

Mr Farron expressed his frustration that the electrification of the Furness Line and funding for a passing loop on the Lakes Line – which aims to double capacity – were not mentioned.

“It’s absolutely gobsmacking that the Government have published a 162-page rail plan for the North, with not a single mention whatsoever of Cumbria,” said Mr Farron.

“Meanwhile they’ve shamefully axed plans for HS3 from Manchester to Leeds, which would have been so beneficial to improving East-West connectivity in the North, which quite frankly is far more important than making it a bit quicker to get to London.

“So today the Conservatives have not only betrayed the North, but they’ve shown that they don’t even understand us.

“Cumbria deserves better than this.”

While Mr Fell said he would be pushing the Government for more details on the plans.

“I don’t think that I’ve had a single constituent enthuse to me about being able to get to Birmingham 15 minutes faster, but we really do need to see continual improvements on our branch lines, such as the Furness Line, and if the IRP means improvements there at greater speed then I will be content,” he said.

“This is an opportunity to improve step free access at places like Ulverston, to increase capacity, and also to maximise safety. Over the next few weeks that’s what I’ll be pushing the Government for more detail on.”