FORGOTTEN rail stations in Cumbria could be given a new lease of life if a government scheme is expanded.

The Community Rail Strategy has helped revive and reshape more than 80 routes and stations around the country since 1993.

Transport minister Paul Maynard has now launched a consultation into how the scheme could be grown, with hopes of a launch next year.

Cumbria county councillor Chris Whiteside said it offered an "enormous opportunity" for Cumbrian rail lines.

He said: "The potential benefit to us in Cumbria is considerable, especially in the west.

"If we can improve opportunities for people to get to places of work like Sellafield or to shopping centres by rail, and improve the facilities at our local stations, that would not just be an excellent thing in itself, but it could also reduce the pressure on the road network.

"Routes like the A595 are not coping, and these proposals could mitigate the knock-on impact of those problems on villages like Askam, Dalton and Bootle."

By improving stations and bringing closed ones back into use, the scheme hopes to get more people off the roads and onto trains, as well as making more stations accessible along the route.

The consultation will run until January 28, 2018.

To respond, write to Kulvinder Bassi, 33 Horseferry Road, London, SW1P 4DR, or email CRConsultation@dft.gsi.gov.uk.

Partnerships 'won't solve Furness rail problems' - MP

WHILE the scheme has been welcomed by the area's MPs, one warns it won't solve the many problems on the Furness line.

Barrow and Furness MP John Woodcock, who last month chaired a meeting of the Cumbria Better Connected group, said: "Community rail partnerships have played a huge role in bringing people together here in Cumbria.

"They give a voice to rail users and passenger groups and help to influence franchise operators in really positive ways.

"I welcome the fact that the government are recognising the work done by community rail partnerships, but we have to be clear that this will not solve the problems we have had with railways here in Cumbria.

"Our railways are suffering from a chronic lack of investment and we will not see the rail service people in Furness deserve until the government comes up with serious money for improvements."

Copeland MP Trudy Harrison said: "In the last 20 years, there have been 60 community rail partnerships already established, including in Cumbria.

"The stations along the Cumbrian Coastal Line are enhanced by the beautiful, locally inspired art and gardening projects which brighten up our journeys.

"This consultation will build on the success of the Station Adopter Scheme, which is financially supporting 'can-do' people in their communities to take control and improve their public areas, but the service must match the hard work of volunteers."