A local rail group responded to strike action happening across the UK.

"It's a complicated situation" said Dick Smith from Lakes Line Rail Group. 

"We hope that the various parties involved can sit down and find a long term solution which benefits rail users and the staff who enable their journeys." 

Lakes Line has campaigned for funding a passing loop and electrification of the line running from Oxenholme to Windermere. 

They spoke to the Gazette about many people in the Lakes not using their car despite the line existing because only one train can run an hour. This was a view echoed by people waiting at Oxenholme station today.

READ MORE: https://www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk/news/20164641.commuters-oxenholme-react-news-rmt-strikes/

Depending on how the current strike action affects the lines this may do more to disincentivise people from using trains in Cumbria. 

RMT Union voted for strikes from 13 operating firms over staff pay, job security, and no compusory redudancies. Network Rail went on strike for the first time since 1994 because of plans to make cuts to the workforce. 

Avanti West Coast, which runs services through Oxenholme going to Euston and Glasgow, said: 

"We would advise customers to check before travel if strike dates are announced and we'll keep customers up to date on this.

We will have more details in due course about ticket flexibility and refunds but customers should expect services during industrial action to be very busy." 

Transpennine Express, which runs services to Manchester from Oxenholme and cancelled services today said:

"We've needed to cancel a number of trains today due to a combination of high levels of staff sickness, industrial relations challenges as well as driver training.

We are advising customers to check their journey, up to the last minute, before they travel and allow extra time."

They also said that they were "extremely disappointed with the decision of RMT members to hold strike action." 

Northern Rail said that they would announce the impact on the region shortly. 

The Rail Delivery Group, which represents all of the operators said: "We are unable to predict how long their dispute will last."