David Morris MP today called for a debate on the future of mainline platforms at Carnforth Station. It was the last debate in Westminster Hall before the Christmas recess and was a chance to lay the scene for what the people of Carnforth and the wider community want, which is the mainline platform to be put back so that the Trans Pennine Express Trains from Preston to Windermere can stop at Carnforth.
The full debate and the arguments made can be found on Hansard by following the link below:
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/whall/?id=2014-12-18a.580.0#g580.1
Most importantly to the campaign’s outcome Transport whip Therese Coffey MP stated in the debate that there is funding available from the department for feasibility studies , such as one to put the platforms back, but it must be the County Council or the Local Enterprise Partnership which can apply for the funding.
Therese Coffey MP said:
I am grateful for my hon. Friend’s continued and assiduous campaigning on the matter, and I hope that he will pursue the case for reinstating the mainline platforms with Lancashire county council and the local enterprise partnership. They would need to take the lead, working with Network Rail and a train operator, in establishing whether there is an operationally and financially viable proposition.