The Morecambe and Lancaster MPs have joined forces in Parliament to push for Carnforth to be chosen as the HQ for the new British railway service.
David Morris and Cat Smith spoke at a debate in Westminster explaining why Carnforth would be the ideal choice as the base for the Great British Railways.
The Conservative MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale, and the Labour MP for Lancaster, agreed that Carnforth would be a better choice than Preston, which has also been touted as a possible home for the new railway HQ.
Cat Smith said: "If levelling up is to mean anything, does (Mr Morris) agree that we cannot just see bids to Government coming from the big cities; we also need them to come from towns such as Carnforth?
"If Lancashire were to get it, would it not be a shame if it were to go to Preston, for example, ahead of Carnforth? Does he agree that Carnforth has a much stronger bid in the county than Preston?"
Mr Morris said: "I totally agree with my honourable friend, in this context and in this Chamber. In short, the whole community in Lancaster and Morecambe, as we have seen, wants to see Carnforth succeed in the bid to become the national headquarters for Great British Railways."
He also said: "The location and geographical area of Carnforth means it is centrally placed in the UK connecting north, south, east and west by rail. The community has facilities to host the new headquarters, such as hotels, and direct access to the city of Lancaster and to Morecambe, which is soon to be the home of the prestigious Eden Project."
The Lancaster MP later said: "This is an opportunity for us both, as local MPs, to put on record our thanks to the Lancaster and Morecambe rail users group, which continues to champion rail travel in our area. The honourable Gentleman was making a point about Carnforth being the place where trains went to die. Would it not be so poetic if it was the place where Great British Railways headquarters was relocated?"
Mr Morris replied: "That is a fantastic sentiment.
"Carnforth exists because of the railways. Carnforth is steeped in railway connectivity and heritage, and is known the world over as Steamtown. Carnforth hosts the last complete steam railway depot, which is crying out for new life to be injected into its many listed historic structures. The site is now occupied by West Coast Railways, one of the UK’s largest heritage rail operators. The love of rail is in the DNA of Carnforth."
Mr Morris secured the Parliamentary debate to promote the merits of Carnforth to Wendy Morton, Minister of State in the Department for Transport.
She said: "Carnforth has a significant rail heritage. At its peak, Carnforth was a meeting point between three major railways, and it grew into an important railway town. When the English film director Sir David Lean was looking for a railway station to film the 1945 classic (Brief Encounter), it was no coincidence that Carnforth station became the backdrop for such a romantic movie.
"Today, the film is one of many attractions at the Carnforth Station Heritage Centre. In addition, Carnforth is the headquarters of West Coast Railways, which operates several regular steam trains, most notably the Jacobite, giving passengers the opportunity to travel on historic steam locomotives. For that reason alone, I know that Carnforth will continue to have an important role to play in our railways."
Mr Morris also presented a further petition backing Carnforth to the House of Commons on Tuesday.
Great British Railways is a planned state-owned public body that will oversee rail transport in Great Britain from 2023. It will replace Network Rail as the operator of rail infrastructure.
The government is running a nationwide competition to find the new HQ, and has invited towns and cities outside London, with strong links to the railways, to make their case.
Lancaster City Council is putting together an official bid to back Carnforth.
Previous debates have taken place in Parliament discussing Darlington and York as possible homes for the headquarters.
The closing date for applications is March 16.
Related stories:
Supporters of national railway HQ bid say "choose Carnforth, not Preston" - Beyond Radio
Bid for Carnforth to be home of Britain's railways reaches Westminster - Beyond Radio
Campaigners aim to make Carnforth the first national HQ of Great British Railways - Beyond Radio
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