The number of passengers using Oxenholme and Penrith railway stations has more than doubled since the introduction of 125mph Pendolino trains in 2004, new research shows.

But Cumbria Chamber of Commerce is warning that this growth could be reversed if high-speed HS2 trains from London to Scotland pass through the county without stopping.

The chamber has submitted a 12-page business case to an official consultation on HS2, calling for the new trains to observe the existing stopping pattern north of Preston. This would see all services stop at Carlisle and many at Lancaster, Oxenholme and Penrith.

As things stand, HS2 is proposing that its trains would operate non-stop between Preston and Glasgow or Edinburgh.

Rob Johnston, Chief Executive of Cumbria Chamber of Commerce, said: “We have made a compelling business case for HS2 services to stop in Cumbria.

“Forcing Cumbrian passengers to change trains at Preston would make rail a less attractive option and put at risk the strong growth in rail patronage over the last 15 years.”

The chamber’s submission, using data provided by the Office of Rail and Road, shows that passenger numbers at Oxenholme have risen by 124 per cent and 134 per cent at Penrith.

It points out that, in addition to a resident population of 498,000, Cumbria had 47m visitors in 2017 and that efforts by the Lake District National Park Authority to reduce the number of tourists arriving by car would be frustrated if HS2 does not stop.

The chamber also says that bypassing Cumbria would send out the wrong message to potential investors, could damage the county's manufacturing and energy sectors and undermine plans for a Borderlands Growth Deal.

Its document includes endorsements from Cumbria Tourism, South Lakeland and Eden council, MPs Tim Farron, Rory Stewart and John Stevenson and comments from businesses that completed a chamber survey on transport.

The chamber’s Business Engagement Manager, Julian Whittle, travelled to London last month to lobby Nusrat Ghani, the minister for HS2.

Although the purpose-built high-speed line from London will end at Golborne Junction, near Wigan, HS2 trains will continue over existing tracks to Scotland.

Director of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, Henri Murison said that it was critical that all parts of the Northern Powerhouse, including Cumbria, gain from the transformational benefits of HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail together.

“The Northern Powerhouse Partnership stands four-square behind business and civic leaders in Cumbria, as well as Parliamentarians like John Stevenson MP," he said "because improved rail connectivity is not just about getting people from A to B, it is a launchpad to stimulating economic growth, increasing investment and delivering better opportunities for people across the whole of the Northern Powerhouse.

“The benefits of HS2 would be a massive boost for the whole of the Borderlands, Carlisle and north of the border, as well as West Cumbria, which is why an HS2 station at Carlisle has to be the first priority." 

Mr Murison added: "Simply put, government can’t leave Cumbria and the Borderlands to the North behind on this once in a generation integrated set of infrastructure, with a Northern Powerhouse station at Lancaster also key to opening up the whole of the city region into South Cumbria, as far as the shipyard at Barrow, to attract the whole range of specialist talent they need.”