MP secures agreement for official bid for Lakes Line electrification to be put to Government

The Campaign to Electrify Britain's Railways has agreed to draw up a bid to electrify the Lakes Line to present to the Department for Transport, following a meeting with local MP Tim Farron.

Electrification of the line would allow more direct services from Windermere to Manchester as well as helping to tackle climate change.

Previous plans to electrify the line were axed back in 2017 after the Conservative Government pulled the funding for the project.

Since then Tim has been meeting with rail bosses, ministers and engineers to get the plans back on track.

Tim said: "I'm really grateful to the Campaign to Electrify Britain's Railways for meeting with me and agreeing to put forward an official bid to the Department for Transport.

"This is a positive step forward in our campaign to see electrification happen after the Conservative Government foolishly pulled the plug on it two years ago.

"Having more quick, reliable and direct trains down to Lancaster, Preston, Wigan and Manchester would be a huge boost for our area."