HS2: Campaign launched to add Oxenholme and Penrith stations to route

As the plans stand, direct services from the capital will only serve Carlisle, forcing passengers from elsewhere in Cumbria to either take a service northwards first or change at Preston.

Cumbria Chamber of Commerce reaffirmed its position yesterday that HS2 should retain direct train travel from London to Oxenholme.

Suzanne Caldwell says Cumbria Chamber will continue to make the case for HS2 services to call at Oxenholme and Penrith. She said "Our concern is that when these high-speed trains join the existing tracks, to continue their journey to Scotland, they won't stop in Cumbria as they currently do and a large area of the county will lose its direct rail service to the capital."

The HS2 rail project, which is expected to cost upwards of around £106bn, will see a high-speed line built from London go as far north as Golborne Junction, near Wigan, from where HS2 trains will continue over existing tracks to Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Tim Faren, MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale thinks it would be insulting to be left out. He said: “I’ve long been calling for HS2 to stop at Oxenholme and Penrith.

“If the Government continue to leave both stations out of their plans for HS2, then it will serve as an almighty blow to our local hospitality and tourism economy.

“It’s also a massive insult to local people here in Cumbria who are having to foot the bill for the spiralling costs of HS2, but won’t actually get to enjoy many benefits from it.”

Dick Smith, from the Lakes line rail users group is concerned that the area could be missing out on direct services to London. He said: “What we are going to get is all the disruption of the Euston construction, which is already being built, and further disruption in the south of England so we shall suffer from that up here and not get the full benefits of it.

HS2 Minister, Andrew Stephenson MP met with North West businesses yesterday. He is due to report back to the Commons next month.