Leader urges Secretary of State to ensure regional representation in rail discussions

The Leader of Lancaster City Council, Councillor Dr Erica Lewis has written to the Secretary of State for Transport, the Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP urging him to ensure that Lancashire and Cumbria are better represented in discussions determining the future of rail within the UK.

On March 1, the Government announced an advisory group for Northern Trains Limited, but once again failed to include representation from our counties.

Councillor Dr Erica Lewis has now repeated her open invitation to Mr Shapps to come to Lancaster and experience first-hand the exciting plans for growth and development in the district and see for himself how vital the role of infrastructure is in the district’s future.

Councillor Lewis said: "Rail connectivity is vital for the Lancaster district and the wider economic region.

“Once again it would appear that transport in the north has been reduced to the Liverpool – Manchester – Leeds corridor, overlooking the needs of everyone north of that line, or living outside a major city.

“We are extremely keen to ensure that currently strategic rail connections are not undermined as a result of HS2 and, further, that rail connectivity at the local and regional level are fully integrated with national routes.”

It is the second time in six months that Councillor Lewis has written to the minister, having previously raised concerns over HS2 and its lack of stopping points within Lancashire and Cumbria.

Last updated: 06 March 2020