03.07.19
Cumbria Coastal line plans secure over £8m funding
Plans to improve the railway line across the Cumbrian coast have secured over £8.5m in funding, including £7.5m to prepare the next stage of the project.
Network Rail propose to use the money to carry upgrades that aim to improve connectivity around the county and the wider rail network.
Government funding will be boosted with an extra £835,000 from the Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership (CLEP).
Jim Jackson, deputy chair of CLEP, said: “This is excellent news for Cumbria. The Cumbrian Coastal rail line upgrade is urgently needed in order to improve the capacity of the line and to ensure that businesses can use it to deliver their growth ambitions.
“The decision by the government to fund the further development of the business case takes us a step further forward towards the line being upgraded.
“That is why the LEP is delighted to invest up to £835,000 in the development of the case. This is the successful outcome of over two years of hard work.”
The plans, which expect to significantly boost the Cumbrian economy, were developed as part of Network Rail’s ‘open for business’ programme.
The rail maintenance company are working in conjunction with other local organisation such as Transport for the North and Cumbria County Council.