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The Railway between Workington and Penrith was in fact slated for closure so that the trackbed could
be used to create a fast road between the coast and the A6/M6 corridor.
This was at the request of British Leyland
who had been persuaded to set up a factory in Workington to solve a chronic unemployment problem.
They found the
Cumbrian Coast too remote and demanded a better transport link.
The Railway was sacrificed so that stretches of
the trackbed could be used for a new fast road - the A66.
After protests from Keswick, the Government compromised
and closed the route from Workington to Keswick in 1966.
The route from Keswick to Penrith was simplified (but
the timetable was not modernised).
In 1972 the line from Keswick to Penrith was closed, despite more protests.
Some opinions have been expressed that if the line had managed to "hang on" a few more years, it would still be
with us.
Now it seems that West Cumbria could benefit from a reinstated east-west rail link, but the "quick
fix" of the late 1960s to build an "easy" road has made that more difficult. Several organisations that have
reduced their operations in West Cumbria, or left completely, recently, have cited "poor transport links" as a major
reason.
Keswick to Penrith stayed open long enough NOT to be used for the A66 - and this is what we are working
to re-open. Who knows what may follow .... !
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