Cumbria’s Labour MPs have called on Northern Trains to deliver an urgent recovery plan following a crunch meeting to address months of poor performance on the Furness and Cumbria Coast Lines.
The meeting follows sustained efforts by local MPs to push the rail industry into action after the Bransty Tunnel closure in Whitehaven last July caused severe disruption.
Pressure from MPs has secured some improvements, including timetable changes, better replacement bus services, and additional support at affected stations. However, performance levels remain unacceptably poor. Northern’s latest data shows that in the past two months, 6.9% of trains between Barrow and Corkickle and 4.9% between Carlisle and Whitehaven were cancelled or part-cancelled. Both above the national average of 4.4%.
MPs expressed concern at the lack of urgency and have formally requested a recovery plan by the end of the month. In a joint statement, Michelle Scrogham MP (Barrow and Furness), Josh MacAlister MP (Workington and Whitehaven) and Julie Minns MP (Carlisle) said:
“While we recognise Northern faces challenges due to the Bransty Tunnel closure, current action is not enough to address very poor performance. This disruption is hitting our constituents hard. People are missing work, education, and training, businesses are losing customers, and some residents are considering moving house or changing jobs.”
“We have asked Northern to provide a written action plan by the end of the month, detailing how they will improve the situation beyond current measures.”
“The Labour Government is investing in, and reforming, rail services and it is vital that Cumbrian rail users see the benefits of that. The failures we see locally are result of privatisation, it has failed,and it is passengers that have paid the price. The new Railways Bill will put our rail system back together and back into public control and we will be supporting that so that passengers here will benefit.”
Josh MacAlister MP 