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Lake District to receive £16 million funding to electrify railway

Transport Minister Baroness Kramer confirms £16 million of government funding to electrify the Windermere branch line in Cumbria today (28 November).

The 10 mile line, which runs between Oxenholme Lake District station on the West Coast Main Line and Windermere station in the National Park, will be upgraded to allow electric trains to run on the route.

Once completed, the line will form part of a direct electrified route between key destinations in the region, including Kendal, Burneside and Staveley and Manchester.

The work will be carried out by Network Rail as part of its electrification programme across the north.

This is part of a wider investment by Network Rail in the electrification of key routes between towns and cities across the north of England.

Network Rail will now develop a detailed plan for the work, which could be completed as early as 2017.

Other routes being electrified include Manchester to Liverpool, Preston, Leeds and York, and Preston to Blackpool.

According to Network Rail once complete, electrification will enable a faster, more reliable rail service.

Baroness Kramer said: “Electrifying this key rail link will support the vital tourism industry in the area, and help us build a stronger economy in the Lake District and beyond.

“We are committed to building a world-class rail network.

“Over the next 5 years, more than £38 billion will be spent on improving and running the system, with schemes like this helping to provide better services for passengers across the UK.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sophia Taha .