Funding will be provided to repair West Cumbria’s Bransty Tunnel, the Government has confirmed, offering fresh hope for the reopening of a key section of the Cumbrian Coast Line.

The tunnel, located between Whitehaven and Corkickle, has been closed since 25 July after Network Rail engineers entered to carry out planned survey work. Once inside, the team identified that the tunnel floor required significant strengthening before further maintenance could progress. Subsequent investigations uncovered historic mine workings beneath the structure, a discovery that has complicated repair plans and increased the scale of work required.

Discussions in Westminster last week saw rail minister Lord Peter Hendy meet Josh MacAlister, who raised urgent concerns about the tunnel closure and its impact on rail services. The talks also covered two other pressing local infrastructure challenges: the long-running issue of orange mine water seeping into Whitehaven Harbour, and the need for long-term upgrades along the Cumbrian Coast Line.

Lord Hendy agreed that the repairs to Bransty Tunnel must proceed and confirmed that government funding will be made available. According to Mr MacAlister, the Minister also backed efforts to bring together relevant government departments to explore funding for a plan to divert the discoloured water away from the harbour and out to sea. A cross-departmental meeting involving ministers and agencies is expected before the end of the year.

The future of the Cumbrian Coast Line also remains a priority, with Lord Hendy reaffirming support for a long-term upgrade programme, beginning with the replacement of the Victorian-era signalling system. Cumberland Council is set to host a workshop this month to assess improvement options. A broader cross-government meeting is planned for January, including representatives from transport, energy and defence, alongside Cumbria’s MPs and council leaders.

Mr MacAlister said:

“I’m pleased to have secured clear commitments from the rail minister on all three of these vital issues. West Cumbria deserves modern, reliable infrastructure and a long-term solution for Whitehaven Harbour. I will keep driving this work forward. Progress is happening because of strong cross-party support across Cumbria to upgrade our railway and improve the resilience of the Cumbrian Coast Line.”

Image: Network Rail