The Western section of the South Durham & Lancashire Union Railway closed on the 01st December 1952. Since then the villages of Gaisgill and Ravenstonedale have been cut of from the rest of Cumbria with little or no public transport.

The Town of Kirkby Stephen would benefit having a direct train service to the West Coast Main Line with Tebay Railway Station also being reopened. With the Northern section of the Settle and Carlisle Line currently closed this would be very useful to the people of this part of Cumbria. 

The villages of Ravenstonedale and Gaisgill would benefit from reopened railway stations giving the residents the opportunity to commute of Carlisle, Lancaster ect. Tourists would also visit these villages boasting the local economy and the new train service would be popular with walkers and day trippers.