THE Government’s decision to review the future of HS2 must lead to high speed trains stopping in Cumbria, according to MP Tim Farron.

The current plans envisage high speed trains from London passing through the county without stopping, meaning passengers on the West Coast Main Line will have to change at Preston to get to Oxenholme, Penrith and Carlisle.

And Mr Farron said it was vital any revised plans should re-examine this situation.

“Building better infrastructure across the North is vital if we’re to rebalance our economy. HS2 is vital to do this," said the Westmorland and Lonsdale MP.

“But if it to work for the whole of the North then one of the key things that needs to come out of this review is that these high-speed trains simply must be able to take people to Britain’s second biggest visitor destination.”

Mr Farron joined Northern chiefs at Windermere station last week to wave off one of the new Class 195 trains now serving customers on the Lakes Line.

The new trains are part of an extensive modernisation programme by the franchise holder, which is also currently running a campaign in partnership with Cumbria Tourism to encourage as many people to travel by train as possible.

Northern offered 50 per cent off advance purchase tickets on the Lakes Line route, which runs from Oxenholme to Windermere, which saw an increase in ticket sales of 72 per cent.

And the group has also launched an online 'flash sale' in which 80,000 10p tickets are now available by booking in advance via northernrailway.co.uk/sale.

The tickets are available for travel from Oxenholme and Windermere and also from the three other stations on the Lakes Line, Kendal, Staveley and Burneside.