A new head of steam appears to be gathering behind plans to bring back the Penrith to Keswick railway line.
This summer a campaign group has hailed a number of “positive” political changes in Cumbria this year, which it believes could get the long-standing dream back on track.
Eighteen miles of line between the towns were closed to passenger trains 51 years ago, but there is growing cross-party support for its return with carbon emission reductions and green transport initiatives high on the political agenda.
In recent years, one of the issues keeping the project in the sidings at a national level was that the former Labour-run Cumbria County Council, was cool on the idea.
Political leaders favoured more national investment in the Cumbrian Coast Line, between Barrow, Workington, Whitehaven and Carlisle, rather than a costly and complicated revival of a ghost line.
Crucially, the Department for Transport needed the county council, as Cumbria’s leading transport authority, to be fully on-board before the process of exploring the feasibility of the line coming back could seriously be started.
However, the county council as a major obstacle across the tracks, has now been abolished under local Government re-organisation, with two new unitary authorities replacing it.
Westmorland and Furness Council and Cumberland Council have also inherited responsibility for transport and planning.
The new Westmorland and Furness council area, run by Liberal Democrats, includes a vast lion’s share of the line’s old footprint to beyond Threlkeld, but stopping short of Keswick, which is in the new Cumberland Council area.
The Liberal Democrats are highly supportive of the new line and went as far as including it in its local election manifesto last year when it was voted into power.
The new council has also put climate change and environmentally-friendly forms of travel among its top priorities.
Tim Farron MP too backs the idea, and the newly-expanded Westmorland and Lonsdale seat that he plans to contest, also now enters north into territory which contains the old line for the first time since the revival campaign was launched.
Mr Farron said: “Reopening the Keswick to Penrith railway line is a really exciting project which would bring huge benefits to local residents, businesses, visitors and the environment.
“Primarily, it would lead to people swapping their car for the train which would massively help to reduce congestion, alleviate parking problems, and reduce our carbon emissions. It’s an absolute no-brainer, and I’m proud to be backing this brilliant campaign.”
From a Conservative perspective, the new Penrith and Solway seat, also now contains both towns at either ends of the line – Penrith and Keswick – for the first time since the campaign to bring the campaign back was launched.
Mark Jenkinson, current Conservative MP for Workington, is standing for Penrith and Solway at the next election, and has previously been at the centre of banging the drum for the line’s reinstatement.
Mr Jenkinson said this week: “I was delighted to lead the bid for the reopening of the Penrith to Keswick railway line, submitted by the then Allerdale Borough Council in conjunction with CKP Railways Plc in 2020.
“The project had support from the four Cumbria Conservative MPs who would see the benefits of the line. It also had support from the Cumbrian LEP, Cumbria Tourism and Eden Borough Council.
“I strongly support the Penrith to Keswick line being reinstated. It would not only benefit residents across Cumbria, but would join up Cumbria for tourists, giving a direct route from Carlisle Lake District Airport to the Lake District.
“CKP Railways have worked for two decades to demonstrate the worth of this project. Regrettably, the Labour-led Cumbria County Council consistently failed to back investment in this route. I hope the new Cumberland Council is more open to support infrastructure projects like this and recognise the huge potential they create.”
Labour-controlled Cumberland Council was approached for comment this week.
CKP Railways, formed 25 years ago, welcomed the political changes and viewed them as a boost for its campaign.
Industry publications characterised the political changes as meaning that the reinstatement campaign is once more “gathering pace”.
In its summer newsletter, CKP Railways said that within the two unitary authorities there are now “people who understand the benefits of the railway”.
It had also contacted both councils to “advise on the plans and policies necessary” to support the return of the railway.
“Money is not the most important factor right now,” CKP said in its summer newsletter. “Solid local political support has to be in place before permission can be given to build the railway.”
