Readers have been responding to a story following the call for more investment in Cumbrian rail.

Cumbria's transport chief called for 'drastic improvement' to the county's railways after Cumbria was snubbed in plans to develop rail infrastructure across the North.

The plan, detailed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson and announced on Thursday, was billed by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps as a success.

He said it would cut journey times in the North with more than 100 miles of high-speed railway.

However, the plans are radically cut down from the original promises made by Mr Johnson, and Cumbria isn't mentioned once in the document.

MP Tim Farron slammed the plans following the reveal and Keith Little, cabinet member for highways and transport at Cumbria County Council, billed the announcement 'disappointing'.

He said: "It is disappointing what the Government have come out with after so many years of promises.

"The Transport for the North board have consistently fought for the Government to follow through with its plans in full.

"As far as Cumbria is concerned, we will receive some benefits from HS2, although the speeds wont be as high as through other areas.

"Many of our railways need drastic improvement – the Cumbria Coastal Line especially."

News and Star readers also shared their views.

Mark Ritson said: "Yet a lot of west Cumbrians will still probably vote Tory again, I would go for the person not the party politics in that situation, and really when you look at what the Tories have done this last couple of months and now with this betrayal on transport and "levelling up" alongside side MPs such as Jenkinson and Harrison, then any option is better than those ones."

Phil Rickerby said: "The problem is to the politicians in London, the North of England is Leeds, Manchester, and Liverpool, they don't realise there are still 100 plus miles of England to the Scottish border.

"From where I am sitting in Carlisle those cities are the Midlands we are the forgotten true North of England."

Sammy JB said: "Not surprised at all, so much for levelling up or the Borderlands project, never mind the North being a powerhouse!"