The Cumbrian Coast Line is not just a way of getting from A to B; it is a lifeline for communities, workers, students and visitors, and a strategic asset for our country. That is why, since being elected, I have made securing a major upgrade to the line one of my top priorities.
For too long, plans to improve the railway gathered dust. The business case for investment sat on a shelf for years, while passengers put up with unreliable services and slow journeys. One of my first actions as your MP was to get the funding and get that business case updated, unlocking progress that had been stalled for far too long.
But paperwork alone doesn’t move trains. Over the last year I have chaired multiple meetings with the Rail Minister and brought together officials from across government to focus on the Cumbrian Coast Line. This has included serious work to explore funding options that reflect the line’s national importance, not least because of the significant nuclear and defence interests it serves alongside everyday passenger services.
The most urgent next step is reopening Bransty tunnel. West Cumbrians know all too well the consequences of short-term fixes. Patch-and-mend repairs over many years are precisely what led us to the closure we face today. That is why I’ve been clear that reopening Bransty tunnel must not mean another temporary job but a full upgrade of the line through the tunnel, built to last for decades. Done properly, this can be the first phase of a wider transformation of the route.
I am confident that this argument has been heard in government. In the coming weeks, an announcement will be made on the work required to reopen Bransty tunnel, and I hope residents will be happy with the outcome.
Looking beyond the tunnel, the next big prize is a full signalling upgrade along the line. On its own, modern signalling would deliver significant improvements to reliability and journey times, making daily travel easier for passengers and giving freight and strategic users the capacity they need. Securing funding for this work in the next Spending Review is a key objective, and one I am pursuing relentlessly.
To keep momentum going, I will shortly host the next roundtable bringing together Cumbrian leaders and the Rail Minister. These discussions matter. They ensure that decisions taken in Westminster are grounded in the reality of life in West Cumbria and focused on long-term solutions, not quick fixes.
This is not an overnight job, and I won’t pretend otherwise. But after years of drift, there is now real progress, real engagement from government, and a clear plan for what comes next. I will keep fighting to make sure the Cumbrian Coast Line finally gets the investment it deserves.
Josh MacAlister MP 